A record-equalling fifth consecutive crown moved a step closer for Serie ‘A’ champions Juventus on Sunday as Roma maintained their Champions League push with a 4-1 humiliation of derby rivals Lazio.
A record-equalling fifth consecutive crown moved a step closer for Serie ‘A’ champions Juventus on Sunday as Roma maintained their Champions League push with a 4-1 humiliation of derby rivals Lazio.
Juventus looked to be down and out of the title race only months after securing a league and Cup double last year in Massimiliano Allegri’s first season in charge.
But from a dismal start to the campaign that left the Turin giants only a handful of points above the relegation zone, Juve have pulled six points clear of rivals Napoli following their shock 1-3 defeat at Udinese.
Juve, who last won a fifth straight crown in 1935, managed only a 1-0 win from a dominant performance at home to Empoli on Saturday but it was enough for Allegri to proclaim “I hope Napoli drop points” at Udinese.
The 48-year-old’s wish came true.
Although Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain hit his 30th league goal of the campaign, Napoli imploded in a bad-tempered display at the Stadio Friuli that saw coach Maurizio Sarri sent off for dissent and Higuain see red after an angry altercation in the closing quarter hour.
Napoli’s dream of securing a first scudetto since Diego Maradona played his penultimate season with the club in 1990 looks to be slipping away, especially as Juve have an arguably easier run-in.
Although still in the title race, Napoli will now feel the heat from third-placed Roma, who humiliated Lazio 4-1 in what may have been Francesco Totti’s final derby appearance.
Although Totti is hoping for a 24th and final year’s contract, club president James Pallotta is trying to steer the 39-year-old into a director’s role instead.
Having made only six appearances amid an injury-hit season, Totti started on the bench as Roma maintained their push for a third consecutive runners-up spot — albeit in a virtually empty stadium as fans largely heeded boycott calls in protest at new security measures in place at the venue.
