Juventus vs Bayern Munich: Sami Khedira is proving the perfect complement for Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba
The summer signing from Real Madrid is yet to lose a game when playing for the Italian champions
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The dramatic overhaul undertaken by Juventus last summer has been widely discussed, with the loss of Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez seen as a major reason for their poor start to 2015/16. Five points from their opening six Serie A fixtures saw their approach questioned and doubts raised about Max Allegri’s suitability to the club, but the coach remained relaxed and confident that his side would improve as the campaign progressed.
Last weekend saw his belief fully vindicated, the Bianconeri beating closest rivals Napoli in Turin and returning to the top of the table, a position they have enjoyed for the majority of the past four seasons. A club-record fifteen game winning streak allowed them to shrug off those early struggles, and gave an air of inevitability to the fact that the Old Lady was once again dominating the Italian football landscape.
The sight of a World Cup-winning midfielder signed on a free transfer controlling matches added to the feeling that normal service had been resumed, only now it is Sami Khedira rather than Pirlo who brings a calming influence to their play.
For two years, he had battled a series of knee and back issues, prompting Real Madrid to opt against re-signing him when his contract expired last June, just as Milan had done with the Italian international four years earlier. Then as now, Juventus showed no such hesitation, handing Khedira a four-year deal only to see him pick up a knock in pre-season that meant he would miss the first month of action.
His debut eventually came in the Group Stage of the Champions League against Sevilla and he immediately impressed, controlling the game from the centre of the pitch and ensured his new team-mates remained alert to the few attacks mustered by their opponents. Khedira left the field to a standing ovation when he was taken off late in the second half, but he would deliver another excellent performance as they faced Bologna just four days later.
Shielding the defence perfectly, he also chose the right moments to break forward and delivered a superb pass for Alvaro Morata’s first half equaliser before getting on the scoresheet himself after the break. Making a well-timed run into the opposition penalty area, the Stuttgart native headed Morata’s cross home to seal all three points for La Madama.
The match also marked the first time in nine months that Khedira had completed an entire 90 minutes, and his influence has grown steadily ever since. So far he has made a total of sixteen appearances for the Turin giants, weighing in with three goals and three assists in those outings while proving to be the perfect player to complement fellow midfielders Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba.
“My aim is to bring balance and stability to Juve's play, so I'm happy the fans in Turin have noticed that,” Khedira told Bild this weekend, acknowledging the regular applause from the stands as supporters recognise his contribution. Rarely in the wrong position, he possesses an innate ability to make runs that disrupt defences and create space for others but never show up in post-match statistics.
Arguably even more important has been the winning mentality Khedira brings to the team, and it is no coincidence Juventus remains undefeated when he is in the line-up. Registering fourteen wins and two draws, it is a record that will be seriously tested on Tuesday evening as they take on Bayern Munich.
“They are one of the strongest teams in the World, some see them as favourites but we're ready for this kind of match,” he continued in that aforementioned interview with Bild, with few men better placed for an encounter with such an opponent.
Having already scored against the Bavarian giants during his time with VfB Stuttgart, he was also part of the Real Madrid side that eliminated them in the Champions League semi-finals en route to their 2014 triumph. Three years earlier he had begun a similarly impressive record against Pep Guardiola, helping Los Merengues defeat his Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, netting against them in a league clash twelve months later.
With Juventus having bitter memories of being undone by Bayern Munich back in 2013, they will hope that those experiences help their young side triumph against the odds. It will be a hugely difficult task as Guardiola and his players enjoy another impressive campaign, but thanks to Sami Khedira the Bianconeri are also back in form.
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