Messy Juve miss chance to seal title
UDINE: Maurizio Sarri slammed a “messy” performance as Juventus fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at struggling Udinese on Thursday to miss the chance to seal the Serie A title for the ninth time in a row.
Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt put the defending champions ahead three minutes before the break.
But a diving Ilija Nestorovski header seven minutes after the interval got Udinese level with Seko Fofana scoring the winner in injury time.
Juventus were six points ahead of second-placed Atalanta, who visited AC Milan last night, with three games left.
They have another chance to seal the title for the 36th time on the pitch at home against 14th-placed Sampdoria tomorrow.
Maurizio Sarri’s side need just three more points and the coronation could happen today depending on the results of the rivals.
“We paid for a lack of order after a good first half,” said Sarri.
“We wanted to win at all costs, we were messy and we took the game on a dangerous track and lost it on 93 minutes because we wanted the three points.
“At this stage of the season it is difficult, we are all tired. We have lost aggression.”
In Thursday’s other game, Lazio came from a goal down to defeat Cagliari 2-1 to move to within a point of thirdplaced Inter Milan.
The Roman club are, however, assured of playing in the Champions League next season.
RESULTS
Udinese 2 (Nestorovski 52, Fofana 90+2) Juventus 1 (De Ligt 42)
Lazio 2 (Milinkovic-Savic 47, Immobile 60) Cagliari 1 (Simeone 45)
FIXTURES
(kick-offs Thai time)
Today
Brescia v Parma (10.15pm), Genoa v Inter Milan (00.30am, Sun), Napoli v Sassuolo (2.45am, Sun) Tomorrow
Bologna v Lecce (10.15pm), Roma v Fiorentina, Verona v Lazio, SPAL v Torino, Cagliari v Udinese (all 00.30am, Mon), Juventus v Sampdoria (2.45am, Mon)