Italy: All of a sudden, Juventus is three points clear of Roma

Roma’s allowed just four goals all season. They’ve scored 27 and have not lost in 14 games, yet despite putting together a 10-match winning streak to start the season, they now find themselves three points out of first. Some of that you can blame on the three-point win rule, and can put a little more on their four-match winless run. Had they taken more than four points from Torino, Sassuolo, Calgiari, or Atlanta (who they drew with, 1-1, on Saturday), Roma wouldn’t have let Juventus reclaim their place at the top of the table.

Thanks to their own four-match winning streak, the two-time defending champions have extended their lead over Roma, a last minute goal from Fernando Llorente on Sunday giving the Old Lady a 1-0 win over visiting Udinese and a three-point cushion stop Serie A. Held off the board for over 90 minutes, Juventus seemed destined to stay within one point of Roma despite out-shooting their guests 27-9. Yet with their last shot, one set up by the returning Stephan Lichtsteiner, Llorente gave Juventus their 12th win of the year, the club unbeaten since losing at Real Madrid on Oct. 23.

It’s a sobering turn for those hoping Serie A’s title might switch hands. Between Fiorentina and Napoli’s summers, Inter’s rebound, and Roma’s burst from the blocks, Juventus seemed in for a steeper fight than the past two years, a challenge which may still come. Yet as players like Paul Pogba and Llorente become more important parts of this team, contributors like Lichsteiner and Andrea Barzagli return from injury, and Gianluigi Buffon leaves his uneven summer form behind, Juventus have started to look even stronger than last year. With Carlos Tévez providing a legitimate scoring threat and Arturo Vidal one of Italy’s best players, this season’s looks like the best team of the Antonio Conte era.

That the early competition in Serie A hasn’t been able to keep them from first place doesn’t speak well for the field’s chances. Though Champions League expectations and Coppa Italia demands will take their toll, two years of building on the team that reclaimed the scudetto has left Juventus with quality depth at all levels. If Roma, Napoli, Inter and Fiorentina are going to pull the Bianconeri back, they’ll have to do it themselves and not wait for Conte’s team to wear down.

Of course, there’s also the possibility that the contenders will drop off. Perhaps Napoli and Fiorentina can be expected to maintain their current paces, but they’re nine and 13 points back (though both play on Monday). Roma and Inter, however? There’s the lingering suspicion each will cool off, even if their goal differences and their performances against Juventus hint they’re as like as anybody to stick around.

But whether you judge by form, the standings, recent success or the names on the team sheet, Juventus looks like the clear favorite. While we would have said the same thing at the beginning of the season, four rounds ago, many were whistling a different tune. Three weeks later, this race is starting to look like the last two: Juve’s to lose.

Here’s what else happened this weekend in Serie A:

Elsewhere

• Parma 1, Bologna 1 – The teams swapped goals within the match’s first half hour, Antonio Cassano’s sixth of the season pulling back Panagiotis Kone’s 10th minute opener. In the 53rd, Frederik Sorensen saw his second yellow card, leaving the visitors to hold out with 10 for their draw.
• Genoa 1, Torino 1 – Davide Biondini scored in the 69th minute to extend Genoa’s unbeaten run to five, with Omar El Kaddouri’s early goal having given Torino the early lead. Keeping Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile off the board, Genoa were able stay in seventh place despite giving up 10 shots on goal.
• Catania 1, AC Milan 3 – Milan’s first league win since Oct. 19 means Max Allegri’s team is tied on points for eighth despite what’s been panned for their terrible start. On Sunday, Riccardo Montolivo, Mario Balotelli, and Kaká goals began the process of putting that disappointment in the past, with a 64th minute red card to Catania’s Panagiotis Tachtsidis greasing the rails for the Rossoneri.
• Inter Milan 1, Sampdoria 1 – Renan’s 89th minute goal gave Sampdoria a result one of coach Sinisa Mihajlović’s former clubs, the Serb having steered 19th place Samp to consecutive draws after his appointment on Nov. 20.
• Atalanta 1, Roma – A 90th minute equalizer from Kevin Strootman set up by Adem Ljajic kept Roma from their first loss of the season, the former leaders still struggling to recapture their attacking swagger without Francesco Totti.
• Cagliari 2-2 Sassuolo – Lino Marzorati and Simone Zaza goals had the visitors up two within 20 minutes, a lead that lasted until the 72nd. That’s when Nene’s header cut the lead to one ahead of Marco Sau’s 87th minute equalizer.

Monday: Fiorentina vs. Hellas Verona, Lazio vs. Napoli

Standings
Each team with 14 games played unless otherwise noted.

1. Juventus, 37 pts.
2. Roma, 34 pts.
3. Napoli 28 pts. (13 games)
4. Inter Milan, 27 pts.
5. Fiorentina, 24 pts (13 games)
6. Hellas Verona, 22 pts. (13 games)
7. Genoa, 19 pts.
8. Parma, 17 pts.
9. Atalanta, 17 pts.
10. Lazio, 17 pts. (13 games)
11. Milan, 17 pts.
12. Torino, 16 pts.
13. Udinese, 16 pts.
14. Cagliari, 15 pts.
15. Sassuolo, 14 pts.
16. Chievo, 12 pts.
17. Bologna, 12 pts.
18. Livorno, 12 pts.
19. Sampdoria, 11 pts.
20. Catania, 9 pts.

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