Juventus title hopes fade after Cagliari shocker
Juventus' Serie A title ambitions are all but over after it suffered a stunning 1-0 defeat at Cagliari, a goal scored from the hosts' only shot on target.
Cagliari failed to register a shot attempt in the opening half but took a shock lead with 25 minutes remaining when Luca Mazzitelli scored with a volley from a free-kick floated into the area.
"You tip your hat to your opponents, who brought home a victory that perhaps they didn't deserve, but sniffed out the opportunity and took it," Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti said after only his second defeat since taking the reins.
"Maybe next time we can learn from that and sniff out our chance too. For certain, losing isn't nice, but we wouldn't have been happy with a draw either. "
The visitors dominated possession early on without creating any real danger until Cagliari keeper Elia Caprile saved Fabio Miretti's strike from just inside the area and the game remained goalless after a dour first half.
Juve had chances before Gianluca Gaetano floated a free kick into the area and Mazzitelli met the ball first time to send a side-footed volley on the turn past Perin.
"A beautiful night that we'll carry with us," Mazzitelli said.
"We faced one of the strongest teams, but we gave more than we had. It was a victory that came with plenty of suffering."
Caprile palmed away a scorching effort from Yildiz as Juventus desperately searched for an equaliser and Yildiz sent a deflected shot off the post late on.
Juventus, who fell to a second loss in 12 league games since Spalletti took charge at the end of October, needs to pick itself up before hosting Benfica in the UEFA Champions League this week and Serie A champion Napoli next weekend in the league.
Juventus sits fifth in the standings on 39 points, 10 behind leader Inter Milan, which beat Udinese 1-0 on Saturday. Cagliari is 15th on 22 points, the win taking it eight points away from the relegation zone.
