MILAN (AFP) - Juventus slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat at lowly SPAL on Saturday (April 13) to put their Serie A title celebrations on hold, while Franck Kessie scored from the spot to keep AC Milan in the Champions League places with a 1-0 win over Lazio.
Massimiliano Allegri's side had needed just a point to claim their eighth Scudetto in a row with a record six games to spare, and they looked on track to seal the title when young gun Moise Kean stuck his foot out to direct a Joao Cancelo effort home after half an hour in Ferrara.
However, Kevin Bonifazi and Sergio Floccari responded with two precious second-half goals which moved lowly SPAL seven points clear of the relegation zone.
"Making records is very difficult, it takes energy and there is also Europe to concentrate on," said Allegri, who rested key players including Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final decider against Ajax in Turin.
"If we had put all our regulars in it would have been easier to win it, but there is also the goal to obtain on Tuesday."
Juventus have a 20-point advantage on second-placed Napoli and can still seal the title in record time on Sunday if Carlo Ancelotti's side fail to win at bottom club Chievo.
Ronaldo was rested for the second time this season and the club fell to just their second defeat of the campaign.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner returned from a thigh injury during the week to score an away goal in the first leg of their tie with against Ajax, which ended 1-1 on Wednesday.
Defender Leonardo Bonucci was also rested along with Blaise Matuidi, Alex Sandro, Mario Mandzukic and Miralem Pjanic, with forward Federico Bernardeschi coming off the bench late in the game.
Mattia Perin replaced Wojciech Szczesny in the Juventus goal with Kean getting his second start alongside Paulo Dybala up front.
Seventeen-year-old defender Paolo Gozzi and midfielder Grigoris Kastanos, 21, were given their first starts.
"We paid a little for our inexperience," said Allegri. "We played with a lot of youngsters. I regret this defeat because I think the match deserved more a draw than a loss."
Kean broke the deadlock when he redirected a tame Cancelo drive, thrusting out his right boot to turn the ball beyond Emiliano Viviano.
The Italy international became the youngest player to score in four consecutive Serie A matches, having scored six in as many games, and played in just eight this season.
But Bonifazi pulled SPAL level three minutes after the break when he connected with a corner to head past Perin.
Floccari fired in the winner on 74 minutes, prompting Allegri to send on Bernardeschi to try and salvage a point.
But SPAL held on to move up to 13th after a fine run of recent form that has seen them win four of their last five and beat Champions League-chasing Lazio and Roma and now runaway leaders Juve.
It was just the second time that SPAL have beaten Juventus, with the last time back in 1957.
ROMA 'MIRACLE'
The battle for Europe remains tight with Kessie's penalty after 79 minutes ending Milan's four-match winless run as they moved back into fourth.
Claudio Ranieri's Roma had temporarily moved into the Champions League places with Edin Dzeko scoring the only goal against Udinese.
But Milan are now one point clear of Roma with Lazio dropping to eighth, six points off the elite European places, but with a game in hand.
In heavy rain in Rome, Dzeko scored his first home league goal in nearly a year.
The Bosnian connected with a Stephan El Shaarawy cross to finish off from close range.
"For the season we've had it's already a miracle that we're here," said Dzeko of their Champions League challenge. "Now that we're there, we have to play every game the way we did in this second half (Saturday)."
Champions League contenders Torino and Atalanta host Cagliari and Empoli on Sunday and Monday respectively.
Ronaldo '1,000%' sure of staying, Football News & Top Stories
Eric Harrison, the former youth team coach of Manchester United's 'Class of 92', which included David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, has died aged 81, the club announced on Thursday. Harrison, who helped forge the fledgling careers of Beckham, Giggs,
Note: Citations are based on reference standards. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The specific requirements or preferences of your reviewing publisher, classroom teacher, institution or organization should be applied.
Pain management - Wikipedia
- Crystal Palace moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday thanks to second half goals from Michy Batshuayi and Wilfried Zaha.
Football: Palace climb away from troube with 3-1 win at Burnley
Gianni Infantino says he has wide support for 48-team World Cup in Qatar Gianni Infantino said a decision would be made by March, although it was still not clear whether an enlarged tournament would be feasible as it would be "difficult" to stage in Qatar alone.
Football - Gianni Infantino says he has wide support for 48
Spanish media call for Valverde axe. Barcelona's Lionel Messi reportedly broke down in tears in the dressing room after his team's 4-0 loss to Liverpool, and 4-3 on aggregate, in the second leg of
The Straits Times - Breaking News, Lifestyle & Multimedia News
No pats on backs for City after rout: Pep LONDON • Pep Guardiola's relentless pursuit of excellence means the bar always has to be set higher at Manchester City than at other clubs. Part of the reason why he is so hard on his players also has to do with the fact City have won most of their honours over the past decade unlike Liverpool, whose
Manchester City news: Pep Guardiola backs Sergio Aguero to
Cardiff dealt major blow in survival bid (1:18) Ryan Babel's screamer for Fulham left Neil Warnock's Cardiff teetering on the brink of relegation from the Premier League.
Babel strike leaves Cardiff on brink of relegation - Sports
sportsnewsboom.com/2019/04/27/babel-strike-leaves-cardiff-on-brink-of-relegation/
12:09 PM ET * Cardiff on brink of relegation after 1-0 defeat at Fulham * Ryan Babel scored winner with ferocious 25-yard shot * Fulham's third win in a row equalled their Premier League best * Game delayed after Fulham's Odoi knocked out by team mate * Fulham striker Mitrovic blazed over bar from 12
Babel strike leaves Cardiff on brink of relegation
Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first clean sheet Fulham's Joe Bryan in action with Newcastle United's Kenedy. Fulham secured their first clean sheet of the season with some dogged defending in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.
Soccer: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first
Europa League: 10-man Arsenal slump to heavy loss as Chelsea earn big home win and there was another surprise in Spain where Slavia Prague held five-time Europa League champions Sevilla to a 2
Europa League: Chelsea too strong for Kiev, Arsenal slump at
Telus profit slips; tops rivals on new wireless subscribers Open this photo in gallery: A Telus store in Toronto's Beach neighbourhood is seen in this file photo.
Stipe Plazibat - Wikipedia
Solskjaer: United don't fear Camp Nou test - Daily Nation
'Robust' security steps for Champs League final
Soccer Football - Premier League - Huddersfield Town v Southampton - John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield, Britain - December 22, 2018 Southampton's Nathan Redmond in action with Huddersfield Town's Te
Southampton power past struggling Huddersfield Town - Reuters
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen