Distances restored. Juventus returns to +4 on Roma and this, given and considered the match to recover (in Crotone on February 8), is a loud and clear message to the whole championship. It is not yet the case to speak of a sentence but it will certainly be difficult for the Scudetto to leave Juventus in Turin: also because, in the meantime, those who are chasing cannot avoid missteps. This is the case of Rome defeated in Genoa, unable to maintain the pace of the leaders and to dodge the traps on the provincial fields.
Furthermore, Juventus really seems to have turned around: thanks to its champions and its coach, good at finding a game system that enhances the offensive potential available and, at the same time, hides the shortcomings of a less powerful midfield compared to a year ago, but still full of good feet. Allegri had the courage to try out the 4-2-3-1 formation against Lazio and to confirm it against Milan and Sassuolo, moreover without changing the attacking players. The results are proving him right and now the bianconeri, in addition to winning continuously (but, after all, they did that even before), create many more chances, amusing the public and themselves too.
Gonzalo Higuain is certainly benefiting the most: with yesterday's goal, Pipita reached Icardi and Dzeko at the top of the scoring charts, but above all they found their sixth consecutive goal, the eighth in their last 6 games. His winger's paw (9') immediately put the Mapei Stadium match downhill, essentially ending a few minutes later, when Khedira found the 2-0 with a tap-in on an assist from the usually very generous Mandzukic (25' ).
“The team did well and winning was very important – Allegri's analysis. – Unfortunately we create a lot and achieve little but we are growing and I am satisfied. However, woe to think that the games are over: the championship is still long regardless of the defeat of Roma ".
Yes, because the Giallorossi have to deal with a stoppage that is as heavy as it is unexpected: in fact, few thought that Sampdoria could play tricks, but that's exactly how it went, with a comeback. Marassi's 3-2 brings back the ancient ghosts of a team full of quality but always grappling with character and personality limits: being come back twice and even ending up losing an almost won match is unforgivable for those who, with proclamations in hand, says he wants to contend for the Scudetto against Juve.
“In some moments we haven't shown maturity – commented Spalletti. – There were minutes of mismanagement, we were caught unprepared and ended up losing an important match. A team like ours must do better." The regrets arise from the fact that Roma had immediately taken the lead (Bruno Peres 5') and then, after collecting Praet's equalizer (21'), had found the 2-1 with Dzeko (66').
Managing the result would have been enough to bring home the 3 points, instead the Giallorossi gave up mentally and ended up being first caught up (71' Schick) and then even overtaken by the Sampdoria (73' Muriel). And so Juve escaped and only the misstep by Napoli allowed them to keep second place intact: talking about the Scudetto, today as today, would not seem to make any sense.
