09 November 2016
As was the case just under a month ago, Juventus top the Serie A charts for a host of key team and individual statistics as the Italian top-flight is temporarily put on hold for the upcoming international break.
Beginning with the most important number of all, Sunday’s narrow 2-1 victory over Chievo was the Bianconeri’s 10th league success of the campaign, more than any other side in Europe’s top five divisions, and one that took their points tally to a very healthy 30, four clear of current second-placed side Roma.
Miralem Pjanic’s curling free-kick in Verona was his team’s 29th Serie A strike this term from their 74th shot on target, ensuring that Massimiliano Allegri’s men enter the final straight before Christmas on top of the rankings for fewest goals conceded (nine) and sit in second for goals scored (25).
The secret behind such defensive solidity once again has been Juventus’ ability in preventing their opponents from getting into scoring positions; unsurprisingly, Gianluigi Buffon has faced the fewest shots on goal so far (26) while his team-mates have allowed a total of just 92 efforts slip past them, both unrivalled figures in Serie A.
At an individual level, the statistics point to Alex Sandro as Juve’s most consistent performer in 2016/17, the Brazilian producing not only the most crosses from open play in the top-flight (20) but also creating the fourth highest number of scoring chances (30).
Close behind the wing-back in the latter is Miralem Pjanic (29) whose total of 73 recoveries see him sit safely in the division’s overall top 10 while joining Paulo Dybala (nine on target from 30) and Gonzalo Higuain (14 on target from 35) as Juventus’ top three for attempted shots.
Since Matchday 1, Allegri’s charges have made 6406 passes, at a completion rate of 85,73 per cent, 489 of which have come once again from Alex Sandro; Leonardo Bonucci (476) and Andrea Barzagli (468) make up the remainder of the Bianconeri’s top three distributors.
