Juventus launched the second half of the season in emphatic fashion, sweeping aside Cremonese with a crushing 5-0 victory at the Stadium. Luciano Spalletti’s Bianconeri look to have finally found their rhythm, climbing to third place in the table, just four points off the top, albeit with Inter, Milan and Napoli still holding a game in hand.

The contest was effectively settled early on. The opener came via a slice of fortune, as Gleison Bremer turned in a deflected effort: Miretti’s long-range strike glanced off the Brazilian’s head and wrong-footed Audero to give Juve the lead.

Barely three minutes later, Jonathan David doubled the advantage, confirming his return to form by scoring for the second match in a row. At the 22nd minute, Johnsen went to ground in the box after contact with Locatelli, but following a VAR review, the referee overturned the initial penalty decision, prompting furious protests from the visitors’ bench. The intensity of the complaints ultimately led to the dismissal of Davide Nicola.

Soon after, Juventus were awarded a clear penalty for a handball by Baschirotto. Kenan Yildiz saw his spot-kick saved by Audero, but reacted quickest to the rebound, slotting home his seventh league goal of the campaign.

After the break, it turned into a one-sided affair. An own goal by Terracciano gifted Juve their fourth, before Weston McKennie capped off the rout with a powerful header, putting the finishing touches on a dominant display by the Old Lady.

Under Spalletti’s guidance, Juventus have rediscovered the sharpness and confidence that had been missing earlier in the season under Tudor. The Bianconeri now extend their unbeaten run to six consecutive league matches (five wins and a draw), firmly re-establishing themselves in the Champions League places.

F. Terracciano

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