Juventus near seventh straight title in Serie A finale

SERIE A leaders Juventus could win a seventh straight Scudetto with two games to go if they beat visiting Bologna tomorrow and Napoli lose at home to Torino the following day.

A last-ditch 3-2 win at 10-man Inter Milan last weekend helped Juve forget their stuttering form and move four points clear of the Neapolitans, who lost 3-0 at Fiorentina a week after a 1-0 win in Turin had brought them within one point of the Bianconeri.

With a Juve win followed by Napoli draw on Sunday, the Neapolitans would still be theoretically in contention, with a six-point gap before the last two games.

But should Napoli draw level on points when the season ends on May 20, Juve would still most likely prevail as their current goal difference, 81-22, is far better than Napoli’s 71-26, and the two sides are level on the initial head-to-head tiebreaker.

Napoli were dejected after the defeat in Florence, where defender Kalidou Koulibaly, the match winner in Turin, was dismissed early in the game.

“There are no excuses for such a belowpar performance,” Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri (left) said.

“Sadly, we’re not machines - we’re susceptible to the emotional effects.

“Perhaps a mental dip is to be expected at this point of the season, but I’m surprised because we’d always been able to fight back in games before.”

Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri (right) agreed that “when you get to this stage (of the season) it’s not about physical fitness anymore but your mental state.”

Another race is on for third and fourth place, now filled by Roma and Lazio, which qualify for the Champions League. – dpa