Tevez Barely Missed As Juventus Machine Clicks Into Gear

COMMENT: The Bianconeri made light work of a first-leg deficit to reach the Coppa Italia final and keep their hopes of a historic treble alive

By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent
Even when they are beaten, Juventus are seemingly unbeatable.

The Bianconeri’s only loss in their last 30 fixtures since an injury-time reverse at Genoa in October came in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final clash with Fiorentina. But Tuesday’s systematic dismantling of the Viola in the return at the Artemio Franchi excised the 2-1 loss at Juventus Stadium from the record books and reinvigorated treble talk in Turin.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side were shorn of Gianluigi Buffon, Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba even before losing Stephan Lichtsteiner to injury in the warm-up, yet they took apart one of the country’s most dangerous sides with a superbly opportunistic display. By the end, the home side were thanking goalkeeper Neto for keeping the score down to 3-0.

It was just a shame that Juve’s copybook was blotted late on when Alvaro Morata was ridiculously sent off for a non-event of a foul on Alessandro Diamanti. Just as they’re winning everything else right now, Juventus are odds-on to triumph in their inevitable appeal.

“To turn the tables, we need to win by a two-goal margin. We need a good performance and calm heads,” Allegri warned before the match. “We need to be extremely patient and make the most of the chances that fall our way.”

They did all that and more. This was a clear reminder of what Juve are capable of, and a timely one at that, with Monaco in town next Tuesday for the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Bianconeri should have the measure of Leonardo Jardim’s side and, on this form, they could be a challenge for bigger and better outfits to follow.

It is true that Fiorentina are prone to the odd blowout, with their recent 4-0 loss at Lazio bringing a shuddering halt to their slim hopes of qualification for the Champions League, but this was a Juve side missing half of their first XI. They should have been there for the taking but instead they were inspirational.

Most impressively, they were dangerous in the final third despite the loss of Tevez. Their Argentine hitman has been in immaculate form for much of this season, and his absence with a thigh injury was expected to be one setback too many in the quest to overcome their first-leg loss.

But Alessandro Matri was patient, Morata lively and Roberto Pereyra irresistible as Vincenzo Montella watched his back line throw up their hands and admit defeat in their bid to suppress what Allegri has largely perceived to be his second-string strike force.

With players of the calibre of Morata and Pereyra backing up Fernando Llorente and Tevez in the Bianconeri’s Champions League squad, there is plenty of depth to call upon.

Perhaps crucially, Allegri switched back to a 4-3-1-2 for this fixture after sending a back three out for the victories over Genoa and Empoli in Serie A. Since originally realigning from Antonio Conte’s favoured formation, Juve have won four of five Champions League fixtures, drawing the other against Atletico Madrid to secure passage from the group stage. They’ve also stepped up to another level domestically.

Juventus are now Coppa Italia finalists, Serie A champions-elect and Champions League quarter-finalists, but the good news doesn’t end there. They are finally playing in the right shape, have the correct attitude, excellent depth, have game-changing players to come back and are playing with confidence.

Treble talk may well still be a little premature but the Bianconeri have reason to believe – and that’s bad news for everyone else.