Why winter champions Juventus have history on their side in their bid for the Serie A title

It may only be a symbolic award, but Juventus clinched the winter championship on Saturday with their 2-0 victory over Atalanta, completing an unbeaten andata to sit top of Serie A at the halfway stage for the first time in six years.

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But while they may receive no silverware for leading the way after 19 rounds, recent history is on their side, with the last seven league titles being won by the winter champions.

The Bianconeri have undoubtedly been the most consistent side so far, with every other club having lost at least three fixtures, but coach Antonio Conte will not be taking anything for granted just yet with AC Milan only one point behind.

But their record against some of those chasing has been what has set them apart. Victories over Milan, Inter and Lazio, plus draws away to Udinese, Roma and a sensational 3-3 with Napoli have proven that Juve can take on their big rivals.

They also had a very good record against the top six last season, but this term Conte has been able to get his side up for many of those matches people would normally expect them to take in their stride. Much of that is down to the addition of Andrea Pirlo, whose ability to add an extra dimension and pick apart the opposition has proven a much-needed feather in Juventus’ cap.

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Above all else though, Conte’s insistence on a relentless work rate from front to back has been the greatest catalyst. With a still-suspect defence, many would not have expected the Bianconeri to have kept 10 clean sheets by this point, but their high pressing game has resulted in a huge percentage of possession over the course of the season, and the ball has more often than not been in the opposition half.

The midfield has adapted well to Conte’s 4-1-4-1 come 4-3-3 system, with Pirlo’s role at the axis laying the platform for the all-rounder Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio, whose six goals so far have been vital to the cause. And the wide men have been led by the desire of Simone Pepe.

However, with 19 more fixtures come 19 more tests. Some fans began to wonder as early as September whether this Juventus could go the whole season unbeaten, and while it is still premature to suggest that is a real possibility, their consistency suggests few will be given the chance to beat them on a plate.

Their great concern right now must be that they have a dreadful record over the past two ritorno campaigns. A miserable early-2010 under Alberto Zaccheroni was followed up by an almost equally poor spell 12 months ago for Luigi Del Neri's men. This Juve looks different, but with still many of last season's side in the current ranks, it should not be discounted that the scars may remain.

All seven winter champions in the 38-game era have eventually got their hands on the silverware that counts. The gauntlet is thrown down to Juve to make it eight.

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