Eldor Shomurodov (3rdR) netted Roma’s equaliser towards Juventus (Alberto PIZZOLI)
Juventus missed the possibility to maneuver into Serie A’s Champions League positions on Sunday after being held to a 1-1 draw at fellow prime 4 hopefuls Roma.
Igor Tudor’s staff keep fifth, stage on 56 factors with fourth-placed Bologna in a decent battle for a spot in Europe’s elite membership competitors.
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Eldor Shomurodov earned Roma a degree 4 minutes after the break along with his sixth purpose of the season, cancelling out an outstanding volley crashed in by Manuel Locatelli shortly earlier than half-time.
Tudor was introduced in final month to get Juve into the Champions League, however Sunday’s draw towards a direct rival complicates issues in a six-team battle for 2 locations, with Inter Milan and Napoli contesting the league title and nearly sure of qualification.
Juve can not afford to overlook out on the Champions League given the membership’s latest destructive monetary historical past and the over 200 million euros ($217 million) invested in renewing the squad for Tudor’s sacked predecessor Thiago Motta.
The Turin giants will nevertheless transfer above Bologna on purpose distinction if Vincenzo Italiano’s aspect lose at residence to Napoli on Monday night time, as Juve are solely a spot beneath within the desk by advantage of getting performed a recreation extra.
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However simply six factors separate Fiorentina in eighth and third-placed Atalanta, who solely lead Juve by two factors after falling to a 3rd straight defeat, 1-0 at residence to sixth-placed Lazio.
Roma are three factors behind Bologna in seventh after a draw which snapped a seven-match run of league wins however confirmed some encouraging indicators for a tough run-in.
Claudio Ranieri’s rejuvenated staff face Lazio subsequent weekend in what guarantees to be a very spicy derby, whereas off-form Atalanta welcome Bologna in one other vital match.
– Atalanta droop –
Contenders for a primary league title only some weeks in the past, a 3rd loss in a row with out scoring has left Atalanta trying over their shoulders.
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Gustav Isaksen poked residence Lazio’s winner after a defensive mix-up within the 54th minute in Bergamo, the place Atalanta have not received a home fixture since earlier than Christmas.
Atalanta have not even scored of their final 4 residence league fixtures and Sunday’s defeat felt like a massively profitable period was coming to an finish for the provincial upstarts, who’re anticipated to lose coach Gian Piero Gasperini in the summertime.
Gasperini has been on the helm since 2016 and, with the assistance of the native Percassi household who information the membership, has taken Atalanta from mid-table fodder to Europa League winners.
However Atalanta’s beforehand flowing attacking soccer has dried up because the flip of the 12 months, and stars Ademola Lookman and Mateo Retegui have been substituted within the seventy fifth minute with the hosts chasing the sport following poor particular person performances.
Italy striker Retegui missed Atalanta’s solely actual probability of the sport 4 minutes earlier than Isaksen’s winner for Lazio.
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