For a nine consecutive season, Juventus have been crowned the Serie A Champions as they beat Sampdoria 2-0 last night at the Allianz Stadium.
Maurizio Sarri’s side weren’t their best on the night however. The 2-0 scoreline might give a more comfortable account of the evening, on which Cristiano Ronaldo was of course the man to get things underway – he netted his 31st Serie A goal of the season just before half-time.
Ronaldo could’ve had a hat-trick to give him a chance of finishing the the season as the league’s top-scorer, instead going three goals and one place behind Lazio’s Ciro Immobile with a missed penalty in the second half.
From a saved effort from the Portuguese in the second period did Federico Bernardeschi pounce to double Juve’s lead.
That was his first goal of the season in 27 appearances, and a fitting one as it proved to be the one that would ensure Juve’s 9th title in-a-row – Juve are now one of three teams in Europe to hold a domestic record of nine consecutive league titles, with Celtic of Scotland and Ludogorets of Bulgaria on the same amount in their respective leagues.
Sarri was no doubt helped on by the sending off of Morten Thorsby for Sampdoria in the second-half. He was shown a second yellow card and, after that, Juve went into cruise control as they cruised seven points clear of Inter, with two games of the season left.
For Sarri then, it’s a first major domestic title. In a fashion so accustomed to only him after the game he was spotted, drenched in champagne and with a lengthy cigar in his mouth, Juve fans have warmed to him throughout the season and any watching Chelsea fans will no doubt be pleased for him.
Many expected a season of this fashion for his first in charge. He’s overseen 49 games so far and has a win ratio of 67.35%, having lost just seven games since taking over – a few people expected him to really struggle in the job.
As for Ronaldo, he’s seemingly gone from one strength-to-another this season. At 35 he’s not only smashed his record from last season scoring 10 more goals in one more game to this point, he’s managed his best return for goals since 2016.
It sets the club up for tantalizing season next time round. Ronaldo seems settled and so too does Sarri but with Inter looking to bolster again this summer, Lazio with the experience of dropping off and Milan looking like dark horses, it’ll make the challenge of a 10th straight Serie A title all the more difficult.
MATCH REPORT
July 26, 2020 – Serie A 2019-2020 Round 36
JUVENTUS-SAMPDORIA 2-0
SCORERS: 45′ Cristiano Ronaldo, 66′ Bernardeschi
|
JUVENTUS (4-3-3): Szczesny; Danilo (29′ Bernardeschi), Bonucci, De Ligt (77′ Rugani), Alex Sandro; Rabiot, Pjanic, Matuidi; Cuadrado, Dybala (40′ Higuain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Buffon, Pinsoglio, Bentancur, Demiral, Muratore, Olivieri, Ramsey, Zanimacchia) Coach: Sarri |
 |
SAMPDORIA (3-5-2): Audero; Chabot (22′ Leris), Yoshida, Tonelli; Depaoli, Linetty, Jankto (74′ Gabbiadini), Thorsby, Augello; Ramirez (91′ Maroni), Quagliarella (Falcone, Seculin, Askildsen, Bertolacci, Bonazzoli, Ferrari, La Gumina, Murru, Rocha) Coach: Ranieri |
REFEREE: Mr. Fourneau from Roma
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Pjanic, Bernardeschi (J), Tonelli, Jankto, Depaoli (S); Red Card; Thorsby (S); Extra Time: 6′, 2nd Half 3′