Juventus, Lazio and Inter Milan may be have been playing for the Serie A title over the last five weeks but their recent form has been more like teams battling relegation.
One of the oddest title races in recent memory took another twist on Thursday when Juventus, needing to win at lowly Udinese to clinch a ninth successive title with three matches to spare, threw away a halftime lead and lost 2-1.
Having wasted their first “match point”, Juve must wait until at least tomorrow, when they host a revived Sampdoria, before they can give coach Maurizio Sarri his first major Italian title. If that happens, it will be as much thanks to the failings of their rivals as their own merits. When Serie A resumed in June following the coronavirus stoppage, the scene appeared set for a dramatic finale. Juventus led with 63 points followed by Lazio — unbeaten in 21 matches — on 62, Inter Milan 57 and Atalanta 51.
In nine matches since, Juventus have taken 17 points, Inter 16, Lazio 10. The only side to have looked like worthy title contenders have been Atalanta who have taken 23 points. Juve’s have twice squandered two-goal leads in their last five games which have produced one win, two draws and two defeats. Inter have won two of their last six games and Lazio had taken one point from a possible 15 before Thursday’s 2-1 win over Cagliari.
Like Juventus, Inter have made a habit of letting matches slip from their grasp. They missed an open goal when they were leading 2-1 at home to Sassuolo and drew 3-3, then missed and a penalty when they were leading Bologna ten-man 1-0 and lost 2-1. Sarri said everyone had been affected by having to play 12 rounds of matches crammed in six weeks in high summer. “This season is difficult, all the teams are playing in conditions different to the usual ones and everyone is tired,” said Sarri. “It’s complicated to stay mentally and physically on the ball for 90 minutes. The games are strange and the momentum changes very easily. The mental fatigue is more than the physical fatigue.”
Juve have already conceded 38 goals, their highest total for 10 seasons, and have dropped 18 points from winning positions. “We’ve had 12 penalties given against us which is unusual for the big teams,” said Sarri. “But there have been more penalties generally, we’re at an all-time record.”
Inter coach Antonio Conte has blamed a lack of killer instinct by his team and Lazio’s Simone Inzaghi says an injury crisis has scuppered their hopes. Lazio thought have claimed a Champions League place, ending a 13-year absence from the competition, when they came from behind to beat Cagliari 2-1 on Thursday following five games without a win.
Serie A leading scorer Ciro Immobile netted the winner with his 31st goal of the season as Lazio, fourth with 72 points, clinched the final Italian place in Europe’s elite club competition next season. “I’m happy, it’s right to celebrate reaching an important target for us which we achieved three matches in advance,” said Immobile. “We are proud despite the difficulties we have faced after lockdown. This is something that Lazio haven’t achieved for years.”
Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) looks dejected after the loss to Udinese in the Serie A on Thursday night. (Reuters)
