Juventus were held to a surprise 1-1 home draw by Cagliari yesterday after conceding a late penalty which led to the Turin giants conceding second place in Serie A to Inter Milan.
Razvan Marin lashed home the 88th-minute equaliser to give Cagliari a point at the Allianz Stadium after Roberto Piccoli was clumsily brought down by Douglas Luiz, who also gave a penalty away in Wednesday’s thrilling Champions League win at Leipzig.
Romania midfielder Marin’s arrowed penalty levelled Dusan Vlahovic’s 15th-minute spot-kick and moved Cagliari a point above the relegation zone.
It was the first goal conceded by Juve in Serie A this season and left Thiago Motta’s third-placed side three points behind league leaders Napoli after seven fixtures.
“We took out foot off the pedal after our goal, and we can’t do that. We need to keep attacking, and attack well,” said Motta.
“We created a few opportunities but there was always the feeling that Cagliari could get back into the game. What happened today is all our own fault.”
Cagliari could have even snatched a last-gasp win as Adam Obert thumped the post in the fifth minute of stoppage time, with Juve down to 10 men following Francisco Conceicao’s sending off almost immediately after Marin’s equaliser.
Conceicao picked up a second booking after trying to win Juve’s second penalty of the game in a frantic finish to a match which had largely been a drab affair before Luiz was penalised for his challenge following a VAR check.
Vlahovic howler
Juventus, who were missing Nico Gonzalez, Arkadiusz Milik, Timothy Weah and Gleison Bremer, who suffered a serious knee injury at Leipzig, would have almost certainly had the full three points had Vlahovic not wasted a huge chance in the 78th minute.
Serbia striker Vlahovic, who is on five Serie A goals for the season, somehow shot wide on the rebound after Douglas Luiz’s shot was parried by Simone Scuffet.
Paul Pogba was in the stands after the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision on Friday to cut his doping ban from four years to 18 months. France midfielder Pogba can return to action in March but sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli gave the impression that the 31-year-old has no future at Juve.
“We’ll make our decision once the CAS decision has been made official,” Giuntoli said pre-match. “He was a great footballer but he hasn’t played for a long time,” he added.
Juve have been joined on 13 points by their next opponents Lazio, who are fourth after inflicting a first defeat of the season on surprise package Empoli with a 2-1 win in Rome.
Pedro slammed home the winner with four minutes remaining as Lazio who came back from Sebstiano Esposito’s early opener. It was Lazio’s fourth straight win in all competitions.