Juve's dire run extends as UCL place is threatened
Juventus’s poor run in Serie A extended to just two wins in 11 games as it was held to a disappointing 0-0 draw away at city rival Torino.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side, which was top of the league when it beat Lecce on 22 January (AEDT) but which now trails leader Inter Milan by 19 points having played a game more, failed to break down its mid-table opponent as its astonishing collapse in form dragged on into another week.
It was the third game in four in the league in which it has failed to score and leaves it vulnerable to being caught in the race to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with fifth-place Roma able to cut the gap to five points should it win its game in hand.
Dusan Vlahovic had Juve’s clearest chances of the first half, first when he knocked Federico Chiesa’s cross against a post, then again when he was foiled by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the Torino goal.
The goalkeeper was called on again to deny the visitors, diving at full stretch to keep out a firm low effort from Kenan Yildiz.
Duvan Zapata thought he had given Torino the lead when he crashed the ball home shortly after half-time, only for his effort to be ruled out for a foul committed by Raoul Bellanova against Juve’s Filip Kostic.
Antonio Sanabria rose highest to meet Bellanova’s cross midway through the second half, drawing a good save from Wojciech Szczesny as Torino threatened.
The hosts might have made it a truly disastrous night for Allegri when Karol Linetty’s ball in was turned over the crossbar by Valentino Lazaro, who seemed to make contact with the ball with his neck with the goal gaping.
It concluded a frustrating encounter for Juve, and came in stark contrast to the comfortable 2-0 win it enjoyed in the derby back in October, when the team was in the early stages of what looked a credible title challenge.
It leaves Allegri’s side in a fight to ensure it does not miss out on the UEFA Champions League for a second consecutive season.
It still has the possible consolation of the Coppa Italia to aim for, and plays the second leg of its semi-final away to Lazio on 24 April (AEST) looking to defend a 2-0 aggregate lead.
