Sports

SPAL holds Juve to 0-0 draw

March 18, 2018
Spal's Francesco Vicari and teammates celebrate after their match against Juventus at Paolo Mazza, Ferrara, Italy, Saturday. — Reuters
Spal's Francesco Vicari and teammates celebrate after their match against Juventus at Paolo Mazza, Ferrara, Italy, Saturday. — Reuters

ROME — Juventus's march toward a seventh consecutive Serie A championship was stalled Saturday by a goalless draw at struggling SPAL that kept the suspense alive in Italy.

Massimiliano Allegri's side had been bidding to open a seven-point cushion on Napoli, which can now close the gap to two when it hosts Genoa Sunday .

“I'm neither angry nor disappointed, we came up against a battling SPAL who fought us and played a wicked game,” said Allegri.

“They made many fouls, 29, to break up our game. These are not excuses, but things that can happen during the season.

“It's only human that when you are top of the Serie A table, in the Champions League quarterfinals and the Italian Cup final, you can miss a beat and lack energy once in a while. The positive thing is that we kept a clean sheet and still have a five-point advantage.”

Juventus's 12-match league winning streak came to a halt but it matched its own Serie A record of 10 games without conceding a goal.

The champions lacked inspiration against the promoted side from Ferrara, to the north of Bologna, with normally reliable goal machines Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain failing to fire.

It was the first time in nearly 50 years that Juventus had played in Ferrara and it came up against a solid and well-organised SPAL unit.

Juventus almost scored in its first attack of the night when a Douglas Costa solo run created space for fellow Brazilian Alex Sandro but his effort was deflected wide.

Dybala tried his luck after 17 minutes with a long-range curling effort that flew wide.

There was also a worry three weeks before its Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Real Madrid with Giorgio Chiellini leaving the pitch 10 minutes before the end with a thigh injury which Allegri later said was “muscle fatigue”.

Juventus's next match after the international break will be against AC Milan in Turin on March 31.

“Fortunately there is a break,” said Allegri.

Promoted to the top flight this season after a 49-year absence, SPAL is one point above the relegation zone with 25 points from 29 games.

“There's a long way to go, but tonight SPAL showed that we belong in Serie A,” said coach Leonardo Semplici of his side's best run in form this season with eight points from four games.

Earlier Sassuolo got its first win since December, triumphing 2-1 to condemn Udinese to a fifth consecutive defeat.

Iraqi international Ali Adnan conceded an own goal after 42 minutes but two minutes later Seko Fofana pulled hosts Udinese level.

Stefano Sensi scored the winner 15 minutes from time to give Sassuolo breathing space as they move away from the relegation zone.

Bizarre penalty in Porto win,

Benfica triumphs too


FC Porto stayed two points ahead of Benfica at the top of the Portuguese league after both teams won Saturday.

Sergio Oliveira had a late goal disallowed in bizarre fashion after he made two touches of the ball before scoring a penalty as Porto beat visiting Boavista 2-0. Title rival Benfica also won 2-0 at nine-man Feirense.

Porto got off to a good start when Felipe netted after two minutes by heading home Oliveira's cross. Hector Herrera doubled the lead in the 62nd.

Feirense's Tiago Silva received a second yellow card in the 41st minute before Benfica pair Raul Jimenez and Rafa Silva scored in the second half.

Feirense defender Antonio Briseno was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle with four minutes remaining. — Agencies


March 18, 2018
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