Decade of Domination 2 : Juventus
Taking a Look at that Nine-Year Spell of Invincibility — 2012/13
Nine years of success that had all other Serie A clubs as livid as Germano Mosconi after the third take.
How did Juventus orchestrate their historic winning streak?
We dive in chronologically and investigate key signings and coaching changes, best and biggest wins, key contributors and delicious facts (factolicious).
This is Part 2. Click here to read Part 1
Warning : This content may harm Inter, Milan, Roma and especially Napoli fans (De Laurentis’ club finished in 2nd spot no less than four occasions during this decade of pain).
2012/13 : Arrivederci Alessandro
This was the first season of football that Juventus had to contest without Alex Del Piero since 1992, back when Gianluca Vialli, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Paolo Di Canio and Pierluigi Casiraghi spearheaded the attack and the Baggio’s (Roby and Dino) were generating the goals alongside David Platt and a twenty-three year old Antonio Conte.
After winning the 2011/12 title in his first season as Juventus coach, Conte’s next task was to maintain the form of the previous season and ameliorate the impact of the ever-improving clubs of the south.
But how do you improve on an impregnable charge to your first official title since the Calciopoli days?
How about an even better start to the Serie A season, winning nine from the first ten games? Nabbing a nineteen year old Paul Pogba for free from Manchester United? Topping your Champions League group without losing a game?
Perhaps it would be a change in formation? In fact, Conte preferred a 3–5–2 for most of this campaign, compared with the 4–5–1 that his side was used to.
The Transfers Out : Alessandro Del Piero (Sydney), Michele Pazienza (Bologna), Marco Borriello (Roma), Fabio Grosso, Eljero Elia (Werder Bremen), Milos Krasic (Fenerbahce)
The Transfers In : Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Lucio (Inter), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese), Federico Peluso (Atalanta), Maurico Isla (Udinese), Niklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Nicolas Anelka (Shanghai)
SERIE A 2012/13 : Scudetto 29
Best win : Juventus 4 (Pirlo, Vidal, Matri, Giovinco) v Roma 1 (Osvaldo)
Juventus scored twenty-two and conceded only six goals in the first ten league games before finally succumbing to Inter Milan 1–3 at home, a match in which Arturo Vidal put his side ahead in the very first minute. It took a Diego Milito brace and some late Rodrigo Palacio magic for the Nerazzurri to bring the Old Lady’s forty-nine match Serie A undefeated streak to an end.
But Juventus won the Derby d’Italia in Milan later on in the season 1–2, una vendetta meravigliosa, thanks to goals from Fabio Quagliarella and Alessandro Matri while a Vidal brace accounted for Lazio 0–2 at the Olimpico. The Chilean’s penalty was enough for a 1–0 home win over Milan in April on Match Day 33.
There was a season-long injury for Simone “Speedy” Pepe, who would be sidelined with a string of muscular issues, only managing one appearance throughout the Campionato.
The absence of Pepe stifled Juve’s spice out wide, and this had a huge bearing in Conte’s decision to play Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right of midfield and change formation to a 3–5–2.
Giorgio Chiellini was another black and white soldier who would fall in the line of duty. Conte’s best defender would play just over half the season but his goal against Napoli on Match Day 27 at the San Paolo was seen as “one hand on the Scudetto”.
Andrea Barzagli was the answer to Conte’s prayers, the 2006 World Cup winner played 34 games — the most of any Juventino that term.
While losing five league games, Juventus still accrued more points in 2012/13 than their undefeated 2011/12 season, winning four more matches and drawing nine less, finishing with 87 points — 9 more than Napoli.
Best Winning Streak : 9 matches (1 more than the previous season)
Biggest Win : Pescara 1 (Cascione) v Juventus 6 (Vidal, Giovinco, Asamaoah, Quagliarella hat trick)
Factolicious : Juve beat Torino twice in the Derby della Mole (3–0 and 0–2). Kamil Glik was sent off for Torino both times.
Pub Quiz Addition : Lucio signed a two year deal, played one Serie A match and was subsequently transferred in the January window. Ciao ciao.
Key Contributors — Arturo Vidal not only topped the overall scoring and Serie A scoring, but also topped the assist count (8) and yellow cards (11)
Leading Serie A Goal Scorers 2012/13 were 15 Vidal, 14 Vucinic, 13 Quagliarella, 11 Giovinco, 10 Matri, 8 Marchisio, 5 Pirlo, 5 Pogba, 4 Lichtsteiner.
Serie A Leading Scorer : 10 Vucinic, 10 Vidal.
UEFA Champions League
Group Stage : It looked bleak for Juventus early on in the group stage, as they spiralled towards a repeat of the club’s previous foray into Europe — where the Bianconeri drew all six Europa League group games in 2010/11 and finished third behind Lech Poznan.
Conte’s men stuttered through the first three group games with three draws, but powered their way admirably into the knock-out stages with three wins — scoring 12 and conceding 4 — as La Vecchia Signora topped the group after destroying Nordsjælland 4–0 and Chelsea 3–0 in Turin.
Round of 16 : Juventus 5 v Celtic 0 (aggregate).
Quarter Final : Bayern Munich 4 v Juventus 0 (aggregate).
Champions League Leading Scorer : 4 Quagliarella.
Coppa Italia
Sebastian Giovinco shone brightly by scoring decisive goals against Cagliari and Milan.
Lazio’s Sergio Floccari sunk Juventus with a 93rd minute goal in the second leg of the Semi-Final, the Biancoceleste winning the final 1–0 against Roma at the Olimpico.
The Conclusion
It seemed like an impossible task but Conte actually improved on the previous season’s performance.
A second Scudetto in as many attempts for the Lecce-born coach, plus the Italian Super Coppa victory over Napoli in Beijing, affirmed dominance over tactical rivals Walter Mazzari (Napoli) and Max Allegri (Milan).
Juventus played integrated football and unified in front of goal. From 97 goals scored throughout the season in all competitions, the midfield contributed 43 of them.
While Napoli (Juve’s closest domestic title rival) had super-striker Edinson Cavani up front (38 goals), Conte rotated a five-man cartel of attacking hitmen from which the whole squad profited.
Goals : 15 Vidal, 14 Vucinic, 13 Quagliarella, 11 Giovinco, 10 Matri
Juventus’ win rate in Serie A went from 60.5% in 2011/12 to over 71% in 2012/13 even though Conte had to juggle European commitments, unlike his first season. Astonishing when compared with Luigi Delneri’s win percentage of 40% just two years prior.
Find out how Antonio Conte won three consecutive titles. Read about 2013/14 in Part 3.
David on Twitter https://twitter.com/davidferrini_
David on the web : www.davidferrini.com
