10-man Juve end losing streak in Cesena

Juventus ended a three-match losing streak despite playing more than half the game with 10 men as they were held 2-2 at Cesena last night.

A brace from Alessandro Matri had given the Turin giants a two-goal lead but their hosts hit back through a Luis Jimenez penalty and Marco Parolo after Marco Motta was sent off.

After a slow opening the game sparked into life on 19 minutes as Alessandro Del Piero burst forward from halfway and slipped in Matri, who shot back across goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli and into the back of the net.

Cesena were made to pay on 35 minutes after another astonishing miss as Del Piero somehow crashed a volley from eight yards against the post but Matri acrobatically headed home the rebound.

Buffon was lucky to stay on the field just before the break as he risked being sent off as he brought down Parolo inside the box .

He was shown just a yellow card as Jimenez struck home from the ensuing spot-kick.

The referee though was less generous when he showed Motta a second yellow card on the stroke of half-time for a high boot.

Buffon saved Juve 14 minutes from time as he changed direction quickly to keep out Dominique Malonga’s deflected strike. But he could do nothing about Parolo’s low effort three minutes later.

Results

Serie A

Cesena 2
Jimenez 41 pen; Parolo 79;
Juventus 2
Matri 19, 35;

HT: 1-2. Att: 18,000.
Red card: Motta (J) 43.

Playing today – 15.00
Cagliari vs Udinese (1-1)
Catania vs Sampdoria (0-0)
Chievo vs Fiorentina (0-1)
Genoa vs Palermo (0-1)
Lecce vs Bologna (0-2)
Milan vs Bari (3-2) - 12.30
Parma vs Napoli (0-2) - 20.45
Roma vs Lazio (2-0)

Note: In brackets results first round

Next fixtures
Saturday: 18.00 Lazio vs Cesena. 20.45 Palermo vs Milan.
Sunday: 12.30 Fiorentina vs Roma. 15.00 Bari vs Chievo; Bologna vs Genoa; Inter vs Lecce; Juventus vs Brescia; Sampdoria vs Parma; Udinese vs Catania. 20.45 Napoli vs Cagliari.

Serie B

AlbinoLeffe 2 - Vicenza 2
Ascoli 1 - Atalanta 1
Grosseto 3 - Pescara 2
Modena 2 - Frosinone 1
Novara 0 - Sassuolo 0
Piacenza 2 - Crotone 0
Reggina 1 - Triestina 1
Siena 0 - Empoli 0
Torino 0 - Livorno 2
Varese 1 - Portogruaro 0

Tomorrow
Cittadella vs Padova (1-2) - 20.45

Standings: Atalanta 60; Siena 57; Novara 55; Varese 50, Reggina 47; Livorno 43; Vicenza, Pescara, Gros-seto 42; Piacenza, Torino 41; Empoli 40; Modena 38; Padova 37; Sas-suolo, AlbinoLeffe 36; Crotone 34; Cittadella 32; Portogruaro 30; Ascoli (-6), Frosinone 29; Triestina 28.