Roma’s defence endures worst day of season against Juventus

Garcia’s side lose unbeaten record in Serie A as rivals capitalise on errors to move eight points clear

AS Roma’s Serie A title challenge imploded against leaders Juventus on Sunday as they had two players sent off in less than a minute in an emphatic 3- 0 defeat that ended their unbeaten run this season.

Roma stalwart Daniele De Rossi was dismissed for a reckless lunging tackle and Leandro Castan followed for punching the ball off the goalline from the resulting freekick in a demoralising defeat, the first since Frenchman Rudi Garcia took over as coach.

Juventus, champions for the last two seasons, stamped their authority on Serie A again as they moved eight points clear of second- placed Roma, threatening to run away with another title with more than half the season still to play.

Roma came into the game with the best defensive record, with only seven goals conceded before the match but were undone by uncharacteristically shoddy play at the back, which allowed Arturo Vidal and Leonardo Bonucci to put Juventus 2- 0 ahead.

Mirko Vucinic made it a rout by firing home the penalty following Castan’s handball as Juventus completed their 10th successive league win, a run which included a victory by the same score over thirdplaced Napoli.

Disaster averted

Roma nearly finished with eight men but Adem Ljajic was let off with a yellow card for a rough tackle on Paul Pogba.

Roma captain Francesco Totti, who wound up Juventus beforehand by saying in a newspaper interview that their team “tend to get a little bit of help”, also had an unhappy evening.

After a largely ineffective performance, the 37- year- old Roma talisman was substituted in the 72nd minute to a predictable chorus of jeers.

“That sort of talk is an alibi for people who don’t win, they always have an excuse ready,” Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon told reporters.

Superlatives avoided

Juventus coach Antonio Conte refused to get carried away.

“I am only ever moderately satisfied until we achieve our targets, so this is just a stepping stone,” he told Sky Sports Italia.

“There’s an entire second half of the season to go and we must do well. These eight points are important, but must not become an illusion because if they rob us of the concentration and desire we need, then we’ll be in real trouble. Anything could happen.”