It's been a while since Italy has had something to shout about in Europe. While the Milanese clubs confirmed their continued participation in Europe’s elite competition in February with games to spare, Napoli completed yet another chapter in their fairytale with a win over Villarreal on Wednesday night, booking their place in the knock-out stages. While Calcio regains credibility across Europe, it is all merely the pre-amble for the return of the Old Lady to the higher echelons of European football next season.

While Antonio Conte repeatedly plays down talk of a Scudetto, on the basis of the season so far it is feasible to suggest that the Bianconeri are well worth a top-three finish, at the minimum, thus ensuring Champions League football this time next year. While rivals across Italy are currently receiving a plethora of plaudits, and deservedly so, many Juve tifosi are not only expecting the return of the Turin giants to the main stage of European football next year but much more domestically. Four points separate table-topping and still unbeaten Juve from fourth placed Lazio, while the Bianconeri face a trip to the capital to take on Roma, and also Udinese with a home clash against Novara tucked in between before the winter break. Despite the dangers of being yet another false dawn, the early signs emanating from the Conte era are suggesting otherwise.

Based on current form, Conte will have every reason to be in both buoyant and confident mood ahead of what are three tough, yet winnable games. Following success in the Coppa Italia clash with Bologna, a competition the coach has placed great importance on despite the obvious priorities in his project, the season continues to provide widespread belief in Turin. Conte made nine changes to his starting line-up, with his ‘reserve XI’ booking a place in the quarter-finals against either Roma or Fiorentina. While the Coppa Italia has none of the history and magic as say the FA Cup has to many aspiring footballers in England, it is still a trophy well worth winning, right? Couple this with the rise to prominence of one Claudio Marchisio, it appears the Juventus of old has finally re-emerged, within the confines of the Italian borders for now at least. The Turin-native has excelled under the tutelage of Conte, adding his Coppa strike to his six goals in 12 Serie A games so far this campaign. Since my last post, Juve have conquered the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio while rescuing a point in Naples when 3-1 down. The Bianconeri also broke down a stubborn Cesena side, despite the absence of the influential midfield maestro, Andrea Pirlo, pulling the strings in midfield. Juve are supposedly a ‘one-man team’, you try telling that to the likes of Arturo Vidal and Alessandro Matri, aside from my candidate for a starring role at Euro 2012 in King Claudio.

In many ways, Conte’s continued refusal to surrender to being labelled as title contenders has helped keep the squad alert to the danger that their ambitions this season could easily collapse following a run of bad results. While it may seem imperative to some that they take maximum points in the forthcoming weeks and confirm their status as ‘winter champions’, let us not forget what Conte and his men have already achieved so far this season. His passion, determination and will to succeed can be summed up by his post-match interview against Bologna.

“I am sorry for us conceding the goal at the 95th minute because it forced us to use up more of our energy, I've been encouraged by [the performances of] those who have played less, tonight, but there is still a lot of work [to do]."

Never one to rest on his laurels, you can rest assured that despite the off-field troubles and suspensions Roma currently face, the game at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night will not be one that Conte will take lightly.

How prestigious do you feel the Coppa Italia is? Have Juve finally broken the curse of being unable to defeat inferior sides at home? How impressed have you been with the recent performances of Claudio Marchisio?

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