Pace-setters Juventus stumble to draw at Udinese
There is still a glimmer of hope for Roma and Napoli in Italy’s Serie A.
Juventus were prevented from going 10 points clear in Serie A as a lethargic performance saw them held 1-all at Udinese yesterday. It was Juve’s first draw in the league this season.
Leonardo Bonucci was both hero and villain as he was outmuscled for Duvan Zapata’s opener but levelled on the hour.
Juventus moved eight points clear of Roma and 10 ahead of Napoli. There are 11 rounds remaining.
After Napoli won 2-1 at Roma, Juventus knew they could take a decisive step toward an unprecedented sixth successive title.
Udinese had picked up only one point from their previous four matches, scoring just one goal. But they took the lead eight minutes from halftime as Zapata held off Bonucci and beat Gianluigi Buffon at the near post.
Juventus struggled to create chances but levelled when Bonucci headed in Paulo Dybala’s free kick.
Udinese coach Luigi Delneri was dismissed straight after for dissent.
The home side almost restored their lead two minutes later but Danilo’s header came off the base of the left post.
Atalanta failed to keep up the pressure in the race for a Champions League spot as they were kept to a scoreless draw by Fiorentina goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side had emerged as surprise contenders for a top-three finish after beating Napoli last weekend butthey slipped four points below the Champions League qualifying spots.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s hopes of European football took a knock yesterday in a 2-1 defeat at home to Freiburg, the club’s fourth straight Bundesliga loss.
Two goals from Florian Niederlechner propelled Freiburg to eighth and left Frankfurt vulnerable in sixth place with 11 games remaining. Frankfurt were third after the 19th round before their losing streak began.
Frankfurt captain Makoto Hasebe played his 235th Bundesliga game, overtaking Yasuhiko Okudera ( 234 appearances for Cologne and Werder Bremen in the first division between 1977-86) as the league’s most capped Japanese player.
With veteran striker Fernando Torres watching his team play just three days after collapsing on the field, Atletico Madrid comfortably defeated Valencia 3-0 to regain fourth place in the Spanish league yesterday.
Antoine Griezmann scored a goal in each half and Kevin Gameiro added another as Atletico rebounded from two winless games.
It was Atletico’s first game since Torres was left unconscious after going up for a challenge and then hitting his head on the ground late in the match at Deportivo La Coruna last Saturday.
The 32-year-old forward was hospitalised but released a day later.
Atletico were coming off a 2-1 home loss to Barcelona and a 1-all draw at Deportivo, results that virtually ended the team’s title chances.
They trail leaders Barcelona by 11 points after 26 matches, but have cut the gap to third-placed Sevilla to six points. SPAIN