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Juventus had a season to forget in 2020-21. The Turin giants relinquished their Serie A crown to Inter Milan after almost a decade of supremacy. At the same time, their struggles on the continent also continued.
The manner in which they were eliminated by Porto in the UEFA Champions League left a bitter taste in their mouths. It also saw their wait for continental glory enter a 22nd year.
They also struggled domestically and needed a huge favor from Verona on the final day against Napoli to secure a top-four finish.
The Coppa Italia triumph was scant consolation for Juventus, who had loftier ambitions heading into the campaign.
Their struggles led to them parting ways with fledgling manager Andrea Pirlo after a year of transition.
Juventus will be looking to get back on track in the new season. On that note, here are five predictions for the Bianconeri's 2021-22 Serie A campaign.
#5 Juventus to reclaim the Scudetto
Juventus are by far the most dominant side in Italian football and their squad depth is much vaster than that of their opponents.
Antonio Conte's shrewdness at Inter Milan, as well as Andrea Pirlo's own inexperience in the dugout, were responsible for Juventus' poor 2020-21 campaign.
The spine of the players who dominated Serie A in the last few years remained the same and did not suddenly become inconsistent.
Massimiliano Allegri was reappointed in Pirlo's stead two years after leaving Turin. He returns to the Juventus dugout with all his experience. Allegri's know-how will come in handy in helping the club get the job done in the Scudetto race.
Furthermore, Inter Milan are the most worthy challengers for the title, but the defending champions have been rocked by an internal financial crisis. Conte has already departed the San Siro, while some of their key players have been linked with moves away from the club.
By contrast, Juventus are relatively more stable and the Scudetto race in the coming season is theirs to lose.
#4 Allegri's appointment to help Paulo Dybala rediscover his best form
Paulo Dybala was arguably the most outstanding player at Juventus between 2015 and 2018. His standout display came in the 2017-18 campaign when he scored 26 goals and provided seven assists in 46 games in all competitions.
He was expected to build on that and become one of the very best players in the world. However, the Argentine has had something of a stall in recent years and was on the periphery of the Juventus squad last season.
Injuries played a part in his reduced output, but it cannot be argued that Dybala did not have the trajectory that many expected. His poor form saw him left out as Argentina ended their 28-year wait for international glory at the Copa America.
Massimiliano Allegri's appointment as Juventus manager offers Dybala an opportunity at a clean slate. And it is one he could take to rediscover his best form.
The Italian gaffer sanctioned his purchase from Palermo in 2015 and the 27-year-old subsequently played the best football of his career under Allegri's management.
Paulo Dybala's talent is not in doubt and fans of Juventus will be hoping he can get back to his best under Max Allegri.
#3 Juventus to boast the best defense in Serie A
Much of Juventus' success in the last decade was founded on an ultra-solid defense that did not gift many opportunities to opposition attackers.
The backline was marshaled by the battle-hardened veteran duo of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, who guided the Turin giants to titles after titles.
However, the club's focus has deviated in recent years to a more esthetic style. It led to the appointment of Mauruzio Sarri in place of Allegri in 2019.
Juventus subsequently placed their focus on technically-gifted defenders like Matthijs De Ligt rather. They changed from the rugged, no-holds-barred defending that had brought them unprecedented success.
The result of this was the the Bianconeri lost their defensive solidity under the management of both Sarri and Andrea Prilo. The club failed to post the best defensive record in Serie A in each of the last two seasons. The previous eight years saw them have the strongest defense in the league.
The reappointment of Massimiliano Allgeri would likely see Juventus return to basics in defense. Furthermore, Euro 2020 showed us that Chiellini and Bonucci still have what it takes to marshall a defense at the highest level.
This could in turn translate to Juventus boasting the defensive solidity that they have been associated with in the last decade.
#2 Federico Chiesa to continue his upward trajectory at Juventus
Federico Chiesa came through at Fiorentina and was one of the few players to impress in a side that regularly underperformed despite the quality at their disposal.
Chiesa's form meant it was only a matter of time before a bigger club came calling. And it came as no surprise when last summer Juventus sanctioned his two-year loan purchase with an obligation to buy.
The 23-year-old impressed in his debut season in Turin, scoring 15 goals and providing 11 assists from 46 games in all competitions for the Bianconeri.
He continued his fine run of form at the just-concluded European Championship. Chiesa was one of the most important players as Italy stormed their way to a second continental title.
Chiesa's display at Euro 2020 has raised his profile and brought him increased attention from casual fans who were previously unaware of his abilities.
There will be added pressure on him to step up to the plate in his sophomore season at Juventus. But the Italy international has the talent to consequently increase his output.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo to finish as the club's top scorer
Cristiano Ronaldo has been nothing short of phenomenal since joining Juventus in the summer of 2018.
The Madeira native has made a mockery of those who suggested that he could no longer perform at the highest level owing to his advanced age. Ronaldo has broken records at a remarkable rate in Turin and is the club's highest goalscorer in the last decade despite only playing for three seasons.
Detractors might scoff at Juventus' inability to win the UEFA Champions League or indeed qualify for the semi-finals despite Ronaldo's presence. However, it takes nothing away from the 36-year-old's immense efforts.
Cristiano Ronaldo finished each of his three seasons at Juventus as the club's highest goalscorer. He also added a maiden Serie A Golden Boot to his vast collection last term.
Massimiliano Allegri's appointment is a potentially sour point. There is speculation that the 53-year-old is not enamored by the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo is a consummate professional who gets the job done on the field regardless of external factors. As such, a fourth consecutive season as Juventus' highest goalscorer in the league is not out of the question.
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