Juventus maintained their unbeaten run this season but fell behind Milan in the Serie A title race following a 1-1 draw at Bologna yesterday. Juve failed to make the most of their game in hand and now trail Milan by two points with 12 matches left.
Marco di Vaio gave the hosts a 17th minute lead but Montenegro forward Mirko Vucinic equalised just before the hour mark.
Juve have not lost in 26 league games this season – and 29 matches including the Italian Cup – but they have drawn exactly half of those.
And that is the reason they are looking up at Milan rather than down. Had they won, Juve would have gone above Milan due to their better head-to-head record.
Once again, Juve proved lacking in attack as they failed to put Bologna under sustained pressure, although their makeshift centre-back pairing – including full-back Martin Caceres as both Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini were injured – had a largely quiet night.
That was until Leonardo Bonucci was dismissed six minutes from time for a second booking meaning that if Juve don’t get one of Barzagli or Chiellini back this weekend, they will have no specialist centre-halves against Genoa.
It wasn’t such a quiet night for Juve coach Antonio Conte, either, who was sent to the stands in the second half for protesting.
Summaries
Bologna 1
Di Vaio 17;
Juventus 1
Vucinic 59;
Red card: Bonucci (J) 84.
Cesena 0
Catania 0
Red cards: Pudil (CS) 21; Almiron (CT) 90;
Parma 2
Okaka 28; Giovinco 87 pen;
Fiorentina 2
Nastasic 60; Cerci 71;
Red card: Behrami (F) 89.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Milan | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 53 | 22 | 54 |
| Juventus | 26 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 39 | 17 | 52 |
| Lazio | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 41 | 30 | 48 |
| Udinese | 26 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 37 | 23 | 46 |
| Napoli | 26 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 44 | 25 | 43 |
| Roma | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 39 | 33 | 38 |
| Inter | 26 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 36 | 36 | 37 |
| Catania | 26 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 34 | 35 | 35 |
| Palermo | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 39 | 43 | 34 |
| Chievo | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 31 | 34 |
| Atalanta (-6) | 26 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 30 | 28 | 32 |
| Fiorentina | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 27 | 27 | 32 |
| Bologna | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 26 | 30 | 32 |
| Genoa | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 35 | 48 | 32 |
| Cagliari | 26 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 23 | 29 | 31 |
| Parma | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 32 | 41 | 30 |
| Siena | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 30 | 28 | 29 |
| Lecce | 26 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 30 | 42 | 25 |
| Cesena | 26 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 16 | 40 | 17 |
| Novara | 26 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 21 | 46 | 17 |
Next fixtures
Tomorrow: 20.45 Chievo vs Inter; Napoli vs Cagliari.
Saturday: 20.45 Palermo vs Roma.
Sunday: 15.00 Milan vs Lecce; Atalanta vs Parma; Catania vs Fiorentina; Cesena vs Siena; Genoa vs Juventus. 20.45 Lazio vs Bologna; Novara vs Udinese.