Juventus Suffers Setback in Serie A Top-Four Race
Juventus faced a disappointing defeat against Parma, surrendering their spot in Serie A’s Champions League positions. The match, originally scheduled for Monday, was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis, and ultimately ended in a 1-0 loss for Juve.
The decisive moment came just before half-time when Mateo Pellegrino scored a powerful header, securing a crucial victory for Parma in their fight against relegation. This loss marked Juve’s first under new manager Igor Tudor, pushing them down to fifth place in the league standings.
With Bologna holding onto the fourth position after a win against Inter Milan, Juve now trails behind by a single point in the race for a top-four finish. Adding to their woes, striker Dusan Vlahovic suffered a thigh injury and will be sidelined for the upcoming match against Monza.
Parma celebrated a much-needed victory, climbing six points clear of the relegation zone. The win ended their streak of six consecutive draws and provided a lifeline in their fight for survival in the league.
Meanwhile, Lazio capitalized on Juve’s misfortune, drawing level on points with them after a convincing 2-0 win against Genoa. Despite both teams ending the match with 10 men, Lazio took advantage of an early red card for Genoa’s Sebastian Otoa to secure the victory with goals from Valentin Castellanos and Boulaye Dia.
In another Serie A fixture, Fiorentina staged a comeback to defeat Cagliari 2-1, moving them closer to the top-four race. With Juventus, Lazio, and Roma all within four points of Bologna, the fight for Champions League qualification is heating up in the Italian top flight.
