Juve charge halted by lowly SPAL
Juventus failed to win for the first time in 13 Serie A matches as struggling SPAL earned an incredible 0-0 draw at Stadio Paolo Mazza.
Heavily favoured to strengthen its grip on the Scudetto against the relegation-threatened Biancazzurri, Juve could instead have its lead trimmed back to two points on Monday (AEDT) when Napoli hosts Genoa.
Alex Sandro's early blocked shot and a marginally misdirected Paulo Dybala free-kick were the best of few opportunities extracted from the plucky host.
SPAL had begun with the confidence of a team unbeaten in its previous three outings and richly deserved the point that has moved it out of the bottom three.
Juve, conversely, looked heavy-legged in its fourth match in 11 days and struggled to produce anything that would cause concern for Real Madrid, its UEFA Champions League quarter-final opponent.
Massimiliano Allegri's side did manage to equal its own Serie A record of 10 consecutive clean sheets — last achieved in 2015-2016 — but it will be scant consolation as the door creaks open for Napoli.
Alex Sandro returned to the starting XI in an advanced role and the move almost paid off early, with only a sliding Filippo Costa denying him a clear sight of goal.
Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala soon tried their luck without success, while Daniele Rugani was capably managing SPAL's encouraging incursions.
Juve had scored twice by the 22nd minute in the previous meeting between these teams, which ended 4-1 to the Turin club, but there was to be no early breakthrough on this occasion as the hosts held their shape beyond the half hour.
Kwadwo Asamoah sliced over the crossbar before a curling Dybala free-kick brushed the top of the net as the opening period edged to a close without the expected opener from a slightly off-colour Bianconeri.
Douglas Costa set a more enterprising tone after the restart with a firm left-footed effort that was palmed away by Alex Meret.
Dybala, who was by Jorge Sampaoli for the latest Argentina squad, next fired wide, and with the score still level on the hour, Allegri ushered Mario Mandzukic off the bench to replace Asamoah.
The visitors' command of possession passed 60 per cent amid their constant probing for the all-important winner, but they were frustrated in their attempts as a Mandzukic header in the 82nd minute failed to trouble Meret.
Instead, SPAL remained compact and held on for a precious point, just the fourth it has managed against Juve at Stadio Paolo Mazza since 1957.
