Three to one in Marassi against Sampdoria is not a trivial result, far from it. Juventus played with a serenity and awareness not seen since Massimiliano Allegri’s last year on the bench. The bianconeri have never risked anything for over an hour, playing a square match and in total control of the match thanks to the new midfield leader Arthur Melo and despite the lackluster performance of the two partners Locatelli and Rabiot.
Juventus played as a team, attacking and defending all together, covered by a gigantic De Ligt, a newly found Rugani and Danilo’s tactical wisdom. In front, Kean and Morata alternated in shortening and lengthening the team, finally making it a cohesive group.
The first goal was achieved thanks to the now trademark of Juan Cuadrado, launched in the area from a Kean-Morata restart. The Colombian winger put the strong ball in the middle towards Kean, as in Florence in the Italian Cup, and the Sampdoria defender was forced to deflect it in an uncoordinated way inside his goal. The two to zero was scored by Morata with a penalty won by Kean.
The Juventus players controlled the pace of the game well, with very wide wings and full-backs and equally careful not to sink forward so as not to allow the opponents to restart.
Arthur sorted balls after balls and Morata allowed the team to gain ground. The negative note is the usual one, at least since the team got into shape: too many wrong counterattacks, too many situations built with great expectations and wasted for a last pass or a last wrong decision.
The great serenity distracted the Juventus players and Sampdoria first got a penalty for a handball by Rabiot, the worst of Juve together with Alex Sandro and Pellegrini, but Szczęsny saved him with a great dive on his right (and it is the third penalty saved in the championship). An own goal by Morata, who deflected a Dorian free-kick with his back, put Samp back in the game a few minutes from the end, but the Spanish striker himself, on an assist from Locatelli, closed it with a nice header.
The streak continues, third place is one point, second place is two and first place is four. Of course, Juventus have played one game more than their opponents, two compared to Inter, but for the first time in two years you can look at the table. And compared to the opponents there is still one more game to play, Wednesday in the Champions League.