Juventus take the winter crown courtesy of two sumptuous goals from Emanuele Giaccherini and Stephan Lichtsteiner.
Antonio Conte made just one change to the side that drew 1-1 against Cagliari, with Giorgio Chiellini returning to play in the centre of defence forcing Leonardo Bonucci to the bench, while Paolo De Ceglie made just his 5th start of the season at left back. Atalanta were without the suspended Giampaolo Bellini and Daniele Capelli while Stefano Lucchini and Carlos Carmona were out injured.
Juventus should have been ahead after just 2 minutes but Alessandro Matri managed to fire over from just 6 yards out. Moments later Matri put Simone Pepe through on the wide right but the midfielder's shot flashed across the face of goal.
Atalanta started to come in to the game not long after and Bonaventura should have done better from Denis' chest down but he managed to volley his effort down into the ground and safely into Gigi Buffon's hand.
It was a frustrating night for Matri and 11 minutes in, his strike was finger tipped over the bar by Consigli. Juventus had another chance from the resulting corner but Mirko Vucinic blasted his shot straight at the Atalanta keeper. Not long after, Paolo De Ceglie tried an acrobatic volley but his effort went wide before Ferri tried exactly the same but ended up with a nasty cut to the head.
Nothing seemed to be going Juve's way as Pepe stung Consigli's palms with a rocket from the edge of the box before Arturo Vidal's long range effort was tipped onto the bar by Atalanta's keeper yet again.
Juve continued to pile on the pressure as the second half kicked off and it finally paid off. Andrea Pirlo's pinpoint cross eluded the entire Atalanta back line leaving Stephan Lichtsteiner to power home his diving header.
Juventus were in the ascendancy and Matri did well to pounce on a Ferri error to go clean through on goal, but his lob was off target with Consigli well off his line.
Simone Pepe was stretchered off after Guido Marilungo's nasty tackle left the ex-Udinese man in some pain forcing Conte to bring on youngster Luca Marrone. The decision paid off in spectacular fashion as Marrone set up Juve's second goal with a deft flick from the outside of his foot allowing Emanuele Giaccherini to spring the offside trap and volley home. |