AC Milan 0-2 Juventus
They’ve lately struggled to match the high standards they’ve set themselves in recent years but this past seven days has shown why the Italian champions cannot be written off.
As they chase a record seventh straight Scudetto, Juventus are winning football games and shortening the betting odds on creating yet more history.
Ominously, they have scored 12 goals in the last three matches and that won’t have gone unnoticed by the sides around them in Serie A.
Yes, Napoli, the side which pushed them so close two years ago, have restored their three point advantage after victory over lowly Sassuolo, courtesy of goals from Allan, Jose Callejon, and Dries Mertens.
Yes, a resurgent Inter Milan could leapfrog them back into second place with victory tomorrow over strugglers Hellas Verona.
Yes, Lazio’s win at Benevento, still bottom and still without a point, means they are only behind the Old Lady on goal difference. Bastos, Ciro Immobile, Adam Marusic, Marco Parolo and Nani were on target in that 5-1 romp.
But after a month which began with the Old Lady throwing away a two-goal lead at Atalanta and then witnessing Lazio defeat them on their own turf thanks to Immobile’s double, the Turin giants return to form has been telling.
Of course, when you have a striker as prolific as Gonzalo Higuain your chances increase tenfold.
His double against Milan – who suffered a fifth defeat in 11 matches and proof the big summer-spending Rossoneri remain off the pace as far as a title challenge is concerned, took his tally to 101 Serie A goals (for Napoli and Juventus) since his 2013 move from Real Madrid.
With those arriving in 153 games, no wonder Juventus look favourites for the big prize one again.
If Napoli could not win the title with Higuain, what chance have they got now he’s at their rivals?
Maurizio Sarri knows he needs strength in depth and, should they strengthen in January, perhaps his determined and tenacious Napoli side can make Neapolitan dreams come true.
Keeping Lorenzo Insigne, Mertens and Callejon fit is key to bringing unbridled joy to those who pack out the Stadio San Paolo.
For the neutral, it would be a wonderful story, just it’s hard to imagine Max Allegri’s boys easing up as this past week has proved.
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