When Juventus were paired with Real Madrid in this season's Champions League semi-finals, the Spanish team, their legions of fans and their media rejoiced. After all, they had avoided La Liga rivals Barcelona and Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich, with some, as per usual flooding social media to create their customary memes. And more were keen to gloat how CR7 and Co. would slaughter the Bianconeri en route to setting up the dream "El Classico" final they had been dreaming about for ages.
Well, their overconfidence came back to haunt them, as in football, the unexpected oftentimes becomes reality. Massimiliano Allegri's men were deservedly rated as the underdogs, due to their lack of spending power compared to the other three and overall performance in Europe in recent times, coupled with Serie A's weakened status.
Nonetheless, Juventus downed the 10-time UCL winners, with former Real Madrid attacker Alvaro Morata coming back to haunt his former employers to defeat them 3-2 on aggregate and set up a final clash against the Blaugrana in Berlin - their first appearance at this stage since losing to AC Milan back in 2003.
For those who do not follow Italian football, the progress of Juventus, especially this season has been quite shocking. Where have they come from and what is going on? is certainly something they will be asking themselves. However, those who tune in weekly to catch their favourite Italian squad and follow the league in the newspapers will be quite impressed, but not awe-struck by the Turin giants' progress. No, they will be well aware of Juve's dominance, then fall, then painful rebuilding process as the slowly and diligently continue to work to re-establish themselves amongst Europe's elite and recognise that this has been something in the making for nearly a decade.
2006: A odd year for Italian football with a scandal and triumph on the world stage
Simply out, 2006 was a year of highs and lows for Italian football. The Azzurri clinched their fourth World Cup in Germany that summer, but brewing behind the scenes was the scandal known as Calciopoli that would change the landscape of calcio for seasons to come. Whilst several other teams - Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina, and Reggina - were also implicated, Juventus suffered the harshest punishment as both the Viola and the Biancocelesti, who were initially set to be relegated, would get to remain in the top flight with just a points reduction and being banned from European competition.
Started from the bottom...but I'm still here: Gianluigi Buffon, unlike Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fabio Cannavaro, was one of the few stars to stay with Juve after relegation to Serie B
Legendary striker Alessandro Del Piero, then the team's skipper, was another to stay loyal to la Vecchia Signora during their most difficult period
Juventus, in addition to relegation were also initially supposed to have a 30 point reduction, only to see their woes alleviated somewhat by seeing it reduced to nine. Despite quickly making their way back to Serie A, la Vecchia Signora's pride was not the only thing that took a serious hit: they were also fined a massive £31,000,000 and the club's president £200,000.
Not surprisingly, this would have some serious repercussions on their ability to compete in the transfer market, and more important once they returned to European competition, they would find it much harder than anticipated to re-join the party.
2007 - 2011: Some growing pains in the top flight
Once back in the top flight, Juventus were never going to find themselves back in Serie B. Still, it would be a difficult adjustment period, full of the customary highs and lows. Under Claudio Ranieri, they achieved a return to the Champions League after finishing third during the 2007/2008 season, and despite Ranieri's dismissal, the Bianconeri followed this up with another impressive showing the following campaign.
Yet, just as things appeared to be getting back on track with a second-placed Serie A finish and making it to the round of 16, things took a turn for the worse. The managerial merry-go-round began to spin, with Ciro Ferrara being followed by Alberto Zaccheroni, then Luigi Delneri. Not surprisingly, as a consequence of the instability on the tactician's bench, Juventus fans saw their team flounder both domestically - with two straight 7th placed finishes - and continentally.
Nadir: The 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons were some disappointing times for Juve both in Italy and on the continent
So, when a new face was announced on the bench, coupled with the opening of their very own brand new stadium, the feeling among fans was one of hopeful, yet, wary optimism as the team would not have any European football as another distraction. And what a difference it would make for them in the 2011/2012 season, setting the stge for what has become a second golden era for
2011 - 2014: The Conte years and building that skyscraper
After losing to Bayern Munich 4-0 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-finals, then-Juventus coach Antonio Conte compared his side to a "partially-built skyscraper", with quite a ways to go to match Europe's elite. The former midfielder, who had featured for the Bianconeri for thirteen seasons and made over 400 appearances, had assumed the reins in 2011 and set an impressive record in his debut season as Juventus not only won their first Scudetto since Calciopoli but also completed a season undefeated - the first Italian side to do so in the new 38-game format.
We're back! Juventus celebrated their first Scudetto since the scandal in historic fashion by completing an entire 38-match season sans a loss
Back on the big stage: during the 2012-2013 season, Juventus made it to the QF's before being dumped out by eventual champions Bayern Munich
Just as things appeared to be going smoothly, Juventus suffered a hiccup as they were unable to follow up their great run in the Champions League a season later. The 2013/2014 campaign would see them win yet another title, but they were embarrassingly dumped out of the group stages after finishing third behind Galatasaray in a quartet many had expected them to qualify from alongside Real Madrid.
"Lions in Italy, but lambs in Europe" roared the headline of one of Italy's major newspapers following the debacle in Turkey. Regrettably, they were unable to make amends as they failed to make the Europe League final - which would have definitely redeemed themselves as it was in their home stadium.
Frustration: Juventus were unable to see a way past Benfica in the semi-finals of the 2013/2014 Europa League
Under Conte, though, despite the absence of any European titles, the Bianconeri quickly re-established themselves as Italy's top side by breaking another record - total points haul - in earning a total of 102 during what would be his final season in Turin prior to assuming the role as Azzurri head coach.
2014 - Present: Can the previously "unwanted" Allegri take them to the next level?
Conte's departure shocked many fans, but even more disconcerting for some was the appointment of Massimiliano Allegri to the post. Although the former Cagliari tactician won a league title in his first season with Milan, the team quickly spiraled downward following the sales and retirement of key players, and the coach - rather unfairly - was blamed for the Rossoneri's woes.
To put it bluntly, Allegri was not given a warm welcome to Turin, but the team's performance this season have arguably won over even his most harshest critic as he has, in his debut season, enjoyed more success on the continent thus far than Conte during his three years on the bench as they prepare to feature in their first Champions League final in a dozen seasons.
In his first season in Turin, Allegri could possibly be celebrating what would be an unprecedented treble with Juventus
The past couple of Champions League campaigns have seen a "dark horse" surprise most by making an impressive run to the final. In 2013, it was Borussia Dortmund; a year later, it would be Atletico Madrid. For Juventus, this has truly been their year. However, like the two teams before them, they have been pitted against one of the continent's finest in Barcelona who enjoy having Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar in their ranks and comprise the most exciting and prolific attack on the continent.
Still, the fact that la Vecchia Signora have made it to this point is a testament to the hard work they have put in for nearly a decade. And there is still more to be done, something that even the most devoted Juve fan would have to admit. All in all, should they manage to upset the odds and lift the much-coveted Champions League trophy in Berlin this June, it would be a crowning achievement not just for Juventus, but indeed for Italian football as a whole.
Like a phoenix: La Vecchia Signora's remarkable turnaround since Calciopoli
2006/2007 - Crowned Serie B champions after having two Scudetti won in 2005 and 2006 revoked
2007/2008 - Returned to Serie A and finished in 3rd place, securing qualification for the UCL; quarter-finals in the Coppa Italia
2008/2009 - Runners up in Serie A; round of 16 in the Champions League; semi-finals in the Coppa Italia
2009/2010 - 7th place in Serie A; group stage in the Champions League; round of 16 in the Europa League; quarter-finals in the Coppa Italia
2010/2011 -7th place in Serie A; group stage in Europa League; quarter-finals in the Coppa Italia
2011/2012 - First Scudetto since Calciopoli; runners-up in the Coppa Italia
2012/2013 - Second straight Scudetto; quarter-finals in the Champions League; semi-finals in the Coppa Italia
2013/2014 - Three Scudetti in three seasons; group stage of Champions League; semi-finals of Europa League; quarter-finals of Coppa Italia
2014/2015 - Fourth consecutive league title; finals of the Champions League and Coppa Italia. Is a historic treble on the way for Juve?
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