ITALIAN LEAGUE

17 minutes with a long-range curling effort that flew wide.

There was also a worry three weeks before their Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Real Madrid with Giorgio Chiellini leaving the pitch 10 minutes before the end with a thigh injury which Allegri later said was “muscle fatigue”.

Costa missed a golden on March 31.

“Fortunately there is a break,” said Allegri.

“We have time to regroup, to recover some injuries and, above all energy and get back into position, physically and mentally, then we will think about Milan and Real Madrid.”

Promoted to the top flight this season after a 49-year absence, SPAL are one point above the relegation zone with 25 points from 29 games.

“There’s a long way to go, but tonight SPAL showed that we belong in Serie A,” said coach Leonardo Semplici of his side’s best run in form this season with eight points from four games.

“It’ll be a battle (for the title) to the end, but right now Juventus remain the favourites,” added Semplici of the title chase.

Earlier Sassuolo got their first win since December, triumphing 2-1 to condemn Udinese to a fifth consecutive defeat.

Iraqi international Ali Adnan conceded an own goal after 42 minutes but two minutes later Seko Fofana pulled hosts Udinese level.