MILAN: Roma missed the chance to go to the top of Serie A after losing at Juventus 2-1 on Saturday.
Francisco Conceição and Loïs Openda scored for Juventus before Tommaso Baldanzi set up a frantic finale. Juventus moved to within one point of fourth-placed Roma.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side would have moved level with Serie A leader Inter Milan with a win, as the three teams above Roma — and Bologna — were involved in the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Paulo Dybala, who won five Serie A titles with Juventus, almost got Roma off to the perfect start but his finish was too weak and straight into the arms of Bianconeri goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Juventus broke the deadlock on halftime. Conceição found Kenan Yıldız on the left and he cut inside before putting in a low cross that was backheeled on by Andrea Cambiaso to Conceição who fired across into the bottom right corner.
Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar pulled off magnificent saves and did well again in the 70th to parry Weston McKennie’s header but the United States international touched on the rebound for Openda to slot into an empty net.
Roma got back into the match five minutes later after Wesley did brilliantly to win the ball back and sent it through to Lewis Ferguson. His angled drive was saved by Di Gregorio but Baldanzi tapped in the rebound.
Yıldız hit the right post in the 80th.
No late winner
Lazio and Cremonese both failed to make the most of their opportunities as they played out a 0-0 draw.
Lazio, which snatched a 1-0 win against Parma last weekend despite ending the match with nine men, almost got another last-gasp winner.
Cremonese defender Federico Ceccherini was shown a straight red card in the fourth minute of stoppage time for bringing down Matteo Cancellieri just outside the area when the Lazio forward was through on goal.
Danilo Cataldi’s free kick skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Juventus beats Roma 2-1 to move within a point of top four in Serie A
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Juventus beats Roma 2-1 to move within a point of top four in Serie A
Guardiola hails Man City’s ‘massive’ win over Newcastle
- Guardiola’s second-placed side closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to just two points with their tense victory at the Etihad Stadium
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Pep Guardiola labelled Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday as a “massive” moment in the Premier League title race.
Guardiola’s second-placed side closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to just two points with their tense victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Nico O’Reilly put City ahead in the first half and restored the lead before half-time after Lewis Hall had equalized.
City weren’t at their best in the second half, but they held on to pile pressure on spluttering Arsenal, who travel to Tottenham for the north London derby on Sunday.
Guardiola knew it was essential to make Arsenal sweat.
“Massive. Newcastle is an incredible team, awesome in physicality and speed they have up front. Physicality in the middle. Really tough but the team was unbelievable,” he said.
“It’s coming in best part of the season. Every single game will be similar to today.”
After finishing without a trophy last season, City are back in the hunt for the seventh English title of Guardiola’s reign.
They will have a game in hand on Arsenal after this weekend and are guaranteed to win the title if they win their last 11 league matches.
Guardiola has embarked on an expensive overhaul of City’s squad in the last 12 months, shedding aging stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and Kyle Walker and bringing in the likes of Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki.
The Spaniard is well aware that his new generation largely lacks the experience of winning under the pressure of a title race, which made their gritty success against Newcastle even more meaningful.
“70 percent of the players have never been in that situation, and I don’t play. So we have to live it, they know that every game will be like this,” he said.
“Especially at home, with five home games left. Today was the best crowd of the year, it was unbelievable with our people, really proud to be manager of these incredible people and fans.
“Of course in terms of points it’s important, but we have to improve to have chance to compete until the end. Now we deserve three more days off. Then another battle in Leeds.”
Guardiola singled out O’Reilly for praise after the young England midfielder’s pair of clinical finishes showed he won’t be affected by the strain of chasing Arsenal.
“Nico give us in the middle that physicality that we need. He now plays in his position,” he said.
“He has always played that, he is so complete and so young. I am really pleased the academy produced these incredible players, Nico, Phil (Foden), Rico (Lewis).”
