In last year's season review, the question was asked - "How does a team top invincibility?". Indeed, Antonio Conte's Juventus managed to surpass their unbeaten league season of 2011/12 with an even more dominant campaign in 2012/13. However, the reigning champions somehow managed to improve even further with a record breaking term in 2013/14 to secure a third straight Scudetto. Juve became the first team in the history of Serie A to not only reach but break the 100-point barrier - finishing with an incredible total of 102 points. They won 33 out of their 38 total games, losing only twice and they were utterly flawless at home with 19 wins out of 19 league matches at Juventus Stadium. They are quite astonishing figures and yet the Old Lady's season is still somehow tinged with disappointment. Despite their domestic superiority, their intended assault on Europe failed miserably as they were eliminated from the group stages of the Champions League and were beaten in the semi-finals of the fall-back competition, the Europa League. It is a strange phenomenon that a team can be all-conquering at home but lacklustre in Europe. Perhaps that is a sad indictment on the current state of Italian football overall. Juve's main problem last season was the lack of a genuine top class striker but that issue was addressed in the summer with the acquisition of Carlos Tevez. Indeed, he lit up Serie A in his debut season with some typically rambunctious displays in attack, netting 21 goals and also chipping in with a healthy number of assists. He was clearly the Bianconeri's player of the season but even he could be disappointed with just a solitary strike in Europe. Fernando Llorente was the other big summer signing in the striking department and, after a difficult start, he soon struck up a great understanding with Tevez. The defence was as solid as ever and Gigi Buffon remains a reliable figure between the sticks. Paul Pogba is gradually growing into a monster in the midfield whilst Arturo Vidal's dynamism and Andrea Pirlo's graceful elegance remained key features of the side's success. It seems they have all the ingredients to be one of the most prominent sides in Europe but something is still missing. Conte is a relentless perfectionist and will work tirelessly in the summer to find out just what that is. Until then, Juventus remain kings of their castle but more needs to be done to expand their empire.
