This was a big week for Juventus. Not only did they get a hiding in the Champions League, they also released a self-glorifying TV show and lined up against their old cross-city rivals, Torino.
This kind of glitz and glamour is what we’ve come to expect from the reigning six-time champions. It shows why they’re one of the countries best loved and most hated teams, all at once.
But what did we actually learn from this week?
After Tottenham’s impressive rally to salvage a fantastic 2-2 draw against Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday in Turin, Italy, many of the plaudits went to Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen.
After Gonzalo Higuain scored twice in the first 10 minutes for Juventus, it looked like this Champions League knockout tie was done and dusted. However, after Higuain missed a good chance on the counter to make it 3-0, Harry Kane made it very much a game.
Tottenham Hotspur are in a pickle after conceding two goals via set pieces in the first 10 minutes against Juventus.
For the first, Juventus ran a pick play and Spurs switched off mentally, giving Gonzalo Higuain all the time he needed to score.
Bad defending, sure, but what a finish. https://t.co/0we1lkhSez
Being hated is part of the Juventus lifestyle. As the most successful team in Italy, there is plenty of fan bases who know nothing but contempt for the Old Lady.
Some of these hatreds are local, such as the rivalry with Torino, while some are based on success, such as the competitiveness with Inter. For Napoli fans, the rivalry is an extension of the north-south divide in the country. Likewise, many fans simply hate Juventus for their … controversial approach to winning at all costs. Some simply hate the fact that they win so much.
Here’s the first official trailer for Netflix’s upcoming documentary on Juventus FC, and it looks sensational. Netflix is going behind the scenes at the 33-time Italian champions, and it appears as if the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Gonzalo Higuain will feature heavily alongside club legends like Alessandro Del Piero.
And if you don’t want to watch it because of Calciopoli, you don’t have to! Nobody wants to listen to your sanctimonious patronizing, so go shit on someone else’s parade.
Serie A returned after a short winter break and everything seemed to go according to plan. Napoli won. Juventus won. Benevento lost. Pretty much par for the course.