The Argentina striker is unbowed by big-stage flops and ready to deliver the trophy Juventus fans crave in the Champions League final against Real MadridGonzalo Higuaín could have lost his temper. He could have ranted about the 32 goals he has scored this season, or the double that set Juventus on the path to victory in the Champions League semi-final against Monaco. With a press officer trying to drag him away, he could just as easily have turned his back and ignored the question altogether.Instead, his response to being asked whether he would fluff his lines against Real Madrid on Saturday – just like he had in the finals of the 2014 World Cup and the Copa América Centenario –...
Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Dani Alves of Juventus have redefined their position while bringing plenty of trophies to their clubs in the past 10 years“Three months ago some people wanted to strangle him,” Massimiliano Allegri said with a smile, but that night they just wanted to hug him. The story goes that when Dani Alves arrived at Juventus, Gigi Buffon took him to one side and asked him to teach them how to win the Champions League. He might not be able to do that exactly but Allegri was speaking just after Alves had taken them to Cardiff, delivering the pass for the first goal and volleying home the second in Monaco. He had already provided two assists in the...
Juve’s sixth straight Scudetto is a testament to the small group of players who have remained. But there have also been fantastically shrewd transfer dealingsMassimiliano Allegri might want to keep an eye on the baggage scanner when Juan Cuadrado checks in for next week’s flight to Cardiff. The Colombian tipped two bottles of water over his manager in the wake of Juventus’s Coppa Italia win last Wednesday, but after they sealed the Scudetto he covered his boss in foam instead.Is it premature to ask what celebration Cuadrado has in mind for a Champions League triumph? There is still the small matter of a final against Real Madrid to get through, after all. But that is the only obstacle remaining in...
In one sense, a treble has already been completed. The Bianconeri are the first team since the Coppa Italia was founded in 1922 to win it three times in a rowGigi Buffon edged towards the touchline, bouncing from one foot to the other and squirting himself in the face with a water bottle. Behind him, Juan Cuadrado grabbed two more – preparing to drench their manager, Massimiliano Allegri, when the final whistle went. The rest of Juventus’s bench gathered around them, ready to rush on to the pitch.You might think this team would be underwhelmed by the prospect of lifting yet another Coppa Italia. But you would be wrong. To watch Juve’s players celebrate their 2-0 victory over Lazio in...
Luciano Spalletti’s side became first team to beat Juventus in Serie A in four months and manager can feel vindicated after often being accused of getting tactics wrong for big gamesMatch point? That’s what they were calling it in the Italian papers, Juventus needing only a draw away to Roma to seal a record-breaking sixth consecutive Scudetto. The Bianconeri looked set to take it, too, producing the equivalent of a 150mph serve as Mario Lemina put them in front in the 21st minute. But Roma responded with a passing shot straight down the line.Goals from Daniele De Rossi, Stephan El Shaarawy and Radja Nainggolan turned a 1-0 deficit into an emphatic 3-1 triumph. Roma became the first team to beat...