Juventus played second fiddle to early season pacesetters Roma for the first three months of the season but in the lead-up to the Christmas break, Antonio Conte’s men moved up a gear.
And on their return from well-earned holidays last week, the Bianconeri hit three unanswered goals against Roma in Turin to put a dent in the Giallorossi’s title hopes.
Heading into the 19th round of matches Juve (49 points) have an eight-point lead on Roma with Napoli, in third, a further two points off the pace. However as the pundits herald this season’s Juve as one of the best, Andrea Barzagli has called for calm.
“We still have 20 games left,” said the Juventus and Italy defender. “Eight points is a good advantage but there is still so much to play for until the end of the season.” Nevertheless, with Roma slipping up again and Napoli already 10 points behind, the pundits have been going Juve-crazy this week.
Conte’s men have won 10 games on the trot since suffering the ignominy of a 4-2 defeat at Fiorentina, currently fourth, at the end of October -- and some believe they could beat Inter Milan’s record 97-point haul from 2007, maybe even, in the process, breaking the 100-point barrier.
While Milan can only get better, city rivals Inter are looking for the spark that will halt their slide down the table that has left them sixth place having been within sight of Napoli only a few weeks ago. Milan are currently 11th, 27 points behind Juve.
And on their return from well-earned holidays last week, the Bianconeri hit three unanswered goals against Roma in Turin to put a dent in the Giallorossi’s title hopes.
Heading into the 19th round of matches Juve (49 points) have an eight-point lead on Roma with Napoli, in third, a further two points off the pace. However as the pundits herald this season’s Juve as one of the best, Andrea Barzagli has called for calm.
“We still have 20 games left,” said the Juventus and Italy defender. “Eight points is a good advantage but there is still so much to play for until the end of the season.” Nevertheless, with Roma slipping up again and Napoli already 10 points behind, the pundits have been going Juve-crazy this week.
Conte’s men have won 10 games on the trot since suffering the ignominy of a 4-2 defeat at Fiorentina, currently fourth, at the end of October -- and some believe they could beat Inter Milan’s record 97-point haul from 2007, maybe even, in the process, breaking the 100-point barrier.
While Milan can only get better, city rivals Inter are looking for the spark that will halt their slide down the table that has left them sixth place having been within sight of Napoli only a few weeks ago. Milan are currently 11th, 27 points behind Juve.