Juventus’ 1-0 loss to Parma on Wednesday, one of four games postponed from Monday due to Pope Francis’s passing, cost them a spot in Serie A’s Champions League standings.
Mateo Pellegrino’s thumping header on the stroke of half-time was enough for Parma to earn a precious win in their fight for top-flight survival and damage Juve’s Champions League hopes.
Juve sits fifth after their first defeat of Igor Tudor’s reign as coach, one point behind Bologna, who are in the top four after beating Inter Milan on Sunday.
And Tudor will have to do without Dusan Vlahovic against Monza on Sunday after the Serbia striker was substituted at half-time, reportedly for a thigh injury.
Parma moved six points above the relegation zone following their first win in two months, which came after six straight draws.
Defeat for Juve was great news for Lazio, who moved level on 59 points with the “Old Lady” of Italian football following a comfortable 2-0 win at Genoa, a match that finished with both teams down to 10 men.
Lazio took advantage of Genoa’s Sebastian Otoa being sent off 21 minutes into his Serie A debut, a beautiful volley from Valentin Castellanos 11 minutes later, and Boulaye Dia’s strike midway through the second half earned the away side the points.
Reda Belahyane was dismissed for Lazio minutes after replacing Nicolo Ravella, who set up Dia’s goal with a fine pass, but it made no difference to the result.
Eighth-placed Fiorentina are one of four teams — alongside Juve, Lazio, and Roma — within four points of fourth-placed Bologna after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Cagliari.
AFP
