Giuseppe Cacace/Getty ImagesIn May, manager Antonio Conte held the Scudetto, Juventus' first since 2003

To say 2012 was an exceptional year for Juventus would be an understatement. They went 49 games undefeated, won their first Scudetto since the Calciopoli Scandal, won the Supercoppa against Napoli and topped their qualifying group in the Champions League. There is simply no stopping Antonio Conte's Juve that set the record for points in a calendar year with 94.

The year also made for some interesting mathematical reading. In Serie A, Juventus played 40 games. They scored 80 goals, averaging two a match despite not possessing a striker who scored more than 14 the entire year. More important, the team only conceded 20 goals in the domestic league since January 2012. For every four goals they scored, they allowed one. Brilliant statistics for a side that prior to Conte's arrival were languishing in seventh-place mediocrity.

Juventus noted the year's top scorers on their website. Both Mirko Vucinic and Arturo Vidal had 14 goals each in 2012, demonstrating the strength of the unit. There is no star striker who has scored the majority of the goals. The runs of Claudio Marchisio, the Andrea Pirlo free-kicks and the headers scored by their centre-backs have all contributed to Juve's high number of goals.

The team’s Champions League performances have proved just as strong. Undefeated in Europe so far, Juventus topped a difficult group that saw the previous champion, Chelsea, forced into the Europa League. Juventus (12 goals) alongside Real Madrid produced more shots than any other side in the competition. Considered both offensively potent and defensively strong, only PSG conceded fewer goals than the Bianconeri at the group stage.

Forced to make do without Conte on the sidelines for much of the season so far, the hunger within has pushed this experienced group of players to maintain their consistency.

There’s been the good, such as the match against Atalanta; the bad, such as Genoa and the ugly, such as Catania. Yet in all those examples and in many more, the difference between the sides has been the Juventus attitude. Unlike previous years, this current side refuse to give up until the final whistle. Fully concentrated and furiously determined, their experience and confidence see them capable of winning consistently and consecutively.

As the squad enjoy their Christmas break, both Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici are looking at the potential purchases that could be made in the winter transfer market. While it seems a deal with Federico Peluso is rather imminent, another young defender has reportedly caught Juve’s attention.

Matheus Macedo Doria is the 18-year-old defender from Botafogo in Brazil and a product of their youth system. Likened to Giorgio Chiellini but with more technical skill, he is considered the star of his current side. Blessed with exceptional pace, he is left-footed, comfortable with the ball and boasts incredible physical presence that frightens opponents.

Considered a rare talent who could potentially replace the departed Lucio, experts have been quick to point out that regardless of the player’s skills, he is still nothing more than potential at the moment. Too young to have the experience to cope with the pressures of Serie A, it remains to be seen what Juventus will do with Doria should they indeed manage to lure him away. He could either be developed at the club or sent away on loan to another side to gain valuable experience.

The Brazilian website Globoesporte reported the deal with Juventus would be completed by early January for a figure of 9 million euros. Italian newspapers are reporting the price Juventus are willing to pay is closer to 4.5 million euros.

The Bianconeri Directors continue to maintain that the upcoming transfer market is about finding the opportunities. It is their belief that no star players can be found mid-season but ones with certain skills can be brought in to add depth to an already competitive squad.

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