Milan: Serie A strugglers Cesena kept the Italian Serie A title race ticking over after holding Juventus to a 2-2 draw on Sunday that left the champions seven points clear of title challengers Roma.
Juventus had the chance to go nine points clear of the Giallorossi after their latest slip-up, a scoreless draw at home to basement side Parma - their fifth draw in six consecutive games.
But at the Dino Manuzzi stadium, which features an artificial surface, Massimiliano Allegri’s expensively-assembled side missed a late penalty and ultimately struggled against a Cesena side which has been fighting to get out of the relegation zone all season.
Roma remain in second place seven points adrift with a five-point lead on Napoli after their shock 3-1 loss at Palermo on Saturday.
Fiorentina moved up to fourth, four points adrift of Napoli, with a one-point lead on Lazio, 1-0 winners at Udinese earlier thanks to Antonio Candreva’s first-half penalty.
Lazio had been shocked 2-1 at Cesena two weeks ago, and Gianluigi Buffon was under pressure from the early stages when Gregoire Defrel forced the Juve goalkeeper to block his angled drive at the near post.
It was a busy night for the Italy veteran.
Cesena saw clear chances by Defrel and Ze Eduardo go amiss, while Fernando Llorente - partnering Alvaro Morata up front in the absence of suspended Carlos Tevez - saw a header go over.
The hosts’ efforts finally paid off when a misplaced Andrea Pirlo pass in midfield sparked a counter which saw Defrel cross for Milan Djuric to sidefoot under Buffon on 17 minutes.
Juve were back on level terms on the half hour after Morata got his head to Pogba’s cross to beat Nicola Leali.
Juve then looked to have turned the corner five minutes later when Claudio Marchisio pounced on a Llorente dummy to fire home from close range.
However Cesena refused to throw in the towel.
Domenico Di Carlo’s men produced several clear chances in a thrilling second half, with Defrel - who fired over just after the restart - seeing his drive across goal narrowly missed by Djuric.
A great half-volley by Franco Brienza then flew over but he finally beat Buffon with a low drive from inside the area after Djuric nodded down a cross.
Juventus should have taken the lead when Stefano Lucchini blocked Llorente’s overhead kick with his hand, but Arturo Vidal’s spot kick flew wide of Leali’s upright.
Roma had ended a run of four consecutive draws with a precious 2-1 win at Cagliari last week to close to within seven points of Juventus.
But after a thrilling encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, Rudi Garcia’s men were left lamenting a series of missed chances on what was Gervinho’s first game back since helping Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations title, alongside new clubmate Seydou Doumbia, who made his debut.
Ashley Cole, making a rare appearance in the absence of fellow left-back Jose Holebas, had two chances late on to seal the win, the Englishman hitting the upright before he volleyed Alessandro Florenzi’s curling delivery from the right flank over the bar in the final minute.
Garcia hit out at his players when he told Sky Sport: “If we have any ambitions, we should be winning and not having to settle for a result like this.
“We only hit the target with four of our 20 shots. We’re not going to score goals like that.”
Genoa, meanwhile, continued to reap the rewards of signing M’Baye Niang on loan from AC Milan with the Frenchman hitting a brace in a 5-2 drubbing of Verona, as veteran Luca Toni hit a brace for the visitors.
Inter Milan claimed their second consecutive win, after last week’s 3-0 rout of Palermo, in a 4-1 drubbing of Atalanta as Fredy Guarin scored a brace.
