Ex-Juventus striker Fabrizio Ravanelli believes the Bianconeri are slowly getting back to their best, as proved in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Inter in the Derby d’Italia.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side were comfortable winners at the Allianz Stadium, courtesy of goals from Adrien Rabiot and Nicolo Fagioli, and Ravanelli felt that it was a victory that proved Juventus were returning to form after some important league wins.
In an interview published in yesterday’s newspaper edition of Tuttosport, the ex-Middlesbrough and Derby County striker also felt that Juventus had shown Inter too much respect in the first half, but secured the win by playing their own game after the interval.
“In the last league matches, and also in the Champions League match against PSG, I saw a team that grew step by step,” Ravanelli claimed of his former club.
“Against Inter, after a first half with too much reverential respect towards the Nerazzurri, the second half was played in a great way.
“I saw Allegri’s Juve again, that pragmatic and concrete team against which it is difficult to score, a team that has intensity. These days, if you are not in top physical condition you will struggle against any rival.”
The 53-year-old turned his attention towards the title race in Serie A and felt that the challengers could not afford to lose any further ground on league leaders Napoli, with a competitive second half of the season to come.
“At the moment the title is out of reach, Napoli are clearly superior to everyone at the moment.
“So Juventus, as well as Inter, Milan, Lazio, Atalanta and Roma, just have to think about winning as many points as possible, and whoever stays up there will have to work hard for a full throttle restart,” he concluded.
Ravanelli scored 69 goals in 159 appearances for Juventus from 1992 until joining Middlesbrough in 1996, and won the Scudetto, the Champions League, the UEFA Cup, and the Coppa Italia with the Bianconeri.
