Juventus have won the Italian title for the 31st time, after
Arturo Vidal's first half strike helped Massimiliano Allegri's side defeat
Sampdoria 1-0.
It was Juventus' fourth league title in a row with as many
games to spare this season and set them up perfectly for their upcoming
Champions League semi-final duel with Real Madrid.
Chilean midfielder Vidal met Stephan Lichtsteiner's deep
floated cross with a perfectly placed header in the 32nd minute to put Juventus
17 points ahead of second-placed Lazio.
The Rome side travel to relegation-threatened Atalanta on
Sunday with only 15 points available to them from their remaining five games.
Juve needed just a point to finally end the one-horse race
for the Serie A crown.
Vidal's first league goal since January was enough for them
to both win the league and become the first side to win at Sampdoria this
season despite resting Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chielini and Alvaro Morata ahead
of their Champions League first leg clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday.
"You never get tired of winning. The older you get the
more titles satisfy you, because they could be the last titles you win,"
said Juve captain Gianluigi Buffon.
"The thought of Real Madrid has pulsed around the place
for some days now, so it's inevitable that while the joy is there for having
closed the league, we need to be ready for this match so that we don't regret
anything."
Beating Madrid would set this season out from the previous
three title-winning campaigns, in which they failed to impress in Europe, and
would be further vindication for Allegri, who was sacked by AC Milan midway
through last season and panned by Juve fans when he was announced as the
replacement for the beloved Antonio Conte in pre-season.
"My first few days here were good. I think I only had
five or six players and we lost a friendly 3-2," he joked.
"On Tuesday we need to have the same attitude but be
even better than today, because we'll have in front of us a team of amazing
players to which you can't concede anything.
"The important thing will be going out onto the pitch
knowing what we need to do against a team that can hurt you at any
moment."
Sampdoria started the match in fifth place, eyeing a spot in
the Europa League, and the game got off to frantic start.
However the best chance for the home side in the opening
period was a long range shot from Pedro Obiang in the 10th minute that failed
to trouble Buffon.
Juve's first clear sight of goal was Vidal's winner, which
he expertly flashed back across Sampdoria keeper Emiliano Viviano and off the
post after racing on to a Lichtsteiner cross that evaded striker Fernando
Llorente before arriving at the midfielder.
Sampdoria were full of heart and kept pressing the away
side, but they lacked invention and struggled to break down Juve's solid
backline.
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