After lying dormant for weeks the Serie A title race was brought flickering back to life after Roma’s impressive 4-2 win over high-flying Parma on Wednesday saw them cut Juve’s lead to eight points with seven games remaining.
Rudi Garcia’s side travel to struggling Cagliari tomorrow afternoon on the back of five straight league wins, while on Monday night a tiring Juventus host third-bottom Livorno.
Juve had built up a 14-point lead and their third consecutive league title looked a formality, but after they lost 2-0 at Napoli following Roma’s easy win at lowly Sassuolo on Sunday, the capital side pounced with a thrilling display against Parma in the early evening sunshine.
The win came in a game that had been suspended after nine minutes in February because of a powerful storm and rain that battered the Italian capital, and hopes are high in Rome that they can give leaders Juve a run for their money in the closing weeks of the season.
“We will play to win all of our following games and as long as there is still a mathematical possibility we will give our all. We’ll see what happens,” Garcia said.
“Things like that (a team coming from behind to win the league) have happened before in the history of football. We’re eight points behind Juve and they have to come and play at the Olympic Stadium.
“They will be feeling under pressure given that two weeks ago they had a huge lead.”
Juventus are on 81 points and are still clear favourites for the title as they have an easier-looking run-in, but they have to travel to Rome in their penultimate game of the season, and there is a feeling that their European exploits are starting to have an effect on their form.
Juve played Lyon in the quarter-finals first leg of the Europa League on Thursday, winning 1-0 away.
On Monday, they have what looks a simple home match against third-from-bottom Livorno.
Juve’s performances have started to dip in recent weeks, and a series of unsure displays for Antonio Conte’s side culminated in a comprehensive beating at Napoli, their first league defeat since October.
“We need to remember the Napoli match in order to improve, but I’m baffled by articles talking about a crisis at Juventus,” Conti told reporters ahead of their clash with Lyon.
“For three years the team has been growing and it will continue to do so.”
Walter Mazzarri’s future as Inter coach is in the balance as they take on Bologna tonight.
Italian media reports have suggested Mazzari could be sacked if his side do not qualify for the Europa League.
Inter are three points behind Fiorentina in fourth but have Parma, Atalanta and Lazio breathing down their necks and their recent form has been patchy.
They have only won four of the 13 league games they have played in 2014, and throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at lowly Livorno on Monday was just the latest of a series of disappointing results.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing Today
Chievo vs Verona 18.00
Inter vs Bologna 20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Atalanta vs Sassuolo
Cagliari vs Roma
Catania vs Torino
Fiorentina vs Udinese
Lazio vs Sampdoria 12.30
Parma vs Napoli 20.45
Monday
Juventus vs Livorno 19.00
Genoa vs Milan 21.00
Standings: Juventus 81; Roma 73; Napoli 64; Fiorentina 52; Inter 49; Parma 47; Atalanta 46; Lazio 45; Verona 43; Torino, Milan 42; Sampdoria 41; Genoa 39; Udinese 38; Cagliari 32; Chievo 27; Bologna 26; Livorno 25; Sassuolo 21; Catania 20.
Serie B
Played Yesterday
Palermo vs Avellino 2-0
Today – 15.00
Brescia vs Pescara
Carpi vs Trapani
Cittadella vs Siena
Juve Stabia vs Varese
Novara vs Crotone
Reggina vs Latina
Spezia vs Padova
Ternana vs Cesena
Lanciano vs Modena
Tomorrow
Bari vs Empoli 12.30
Leading standings: Palermo 66; Empoli 53; Cesena, Crotone 50; Siena, Trapani 49; Lanciano, Latina 48.