Arturo Vidal clinched a fourth-successive Serie A title for Juventus with the only goal of the game against Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferrari on Saturday,

The Chile midfielder headed home a Stephan Lichtsteiner cross in the 32nd minute as Juve‘s controlled possession saw the Turin club overcome their opponents 1-0.

The victory gave Juventus an unassailable 17-point lead over second-placed Roma, leaving them free to concentrate on their Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

For Sampdoria, the defeat could come at a further cost, with rivals for a European spot such as Genoa, Fiorentina, Torino and Inter Milan now having the chance to overtake the fifth-placed team in the Serie A table.

Juventus made three changes to their team with Vidal replacing Andrea Pirlo, who was named on the bench, in the starting XI.

Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Padoin also came in for Giorgio Chiellini and Patrice Evra in Massimiliano Allegri’s champions-elect team.

But it was Sampdoria who made the livelier start to the game with Pedro Obiang going close in the 15th minute.

The Turin side eventually found their feet, though, and Vidal forced a good save from Emiliano Viviano in the 26th minute with his snap shot.

Stefano Sturaro was hurt in a 31st-minute challenge with Lorenzo Di Silvestri, but both players were able to continue.

And within a minute, Juventus had taken a giant step toward a fourth successive title as Vidal opened the scoring. Stephan Lichtsteiner floated a ball to the far post from the right corner of the Samp area, and the Chile international had little trouble heading home at the far post.

Fernando Llorente should have at least hit the target three minutes later from another Lichtsteiner cross, but he headed over the crossbar.

Samuel Eto’o looked to be on course for a second-half equaliser, but the Juventus defence scrambled the ball clear as the former Inter and Barcelona man threatened.

At the other end, Vidal set up Claudio Marchisio on the edge of the area in the 55th minute, but the Juventus midfielder’s effort was high and wide of Viviano‘s goal.

Carlos Tevez almost produced the perfect end to an excellent passing move by Juve in the 59th minute, but Viviano stretched out his right hand to palm the Argentinian’s strike away.

Juventus were grateful to the defending of Bonucci in the 65th minute when he managed to place a foot in front of Gonzalo Bergessio’s strike inside the area after a superb ball by Eto’o.

The visitors’ controlled possession of the ball throughout the game was having an effect on Sampdoria by the midway point of the second half, with the Genoa team looking ragged and tired by the persistent chasing.

With Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg in mind, Allegri brought off Tevez for Alvaro Morata in the 72nd minute before switching Chiellini for Roberto Pereyra.

The title was in the bag by now, though, and with Sampdoria offering little threat on an underemployed Gianluigi Buffon in the visitors’ goal, Juventus were able to sit back to claim the Scudetto.

Now their focus will be on the Champions League, with holders Real Madrid arriving at the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday.

 

Selected Player Ratings

Arturo Vidal: A+

An industrious display from the Juventus midfielder on his return to the starting lineup. He fully warranted his opening goal.

 

Fernando Llorente: B+

The Juventus striker should have done better with a first-half header but played his part by holding the ball up well for colleagues.

 

Stephan Lichtsteiner: A

Provided the assist for Vidal’s opener with an inch-perfect cross, but he barely troubled on the right side of the field. An unsung star of Juventus‘ title triumph.

 

Post-Match Reaction

 

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