Juventus have slipped out of Serie A’s coveted Champions League qualification spots after suffering a 1-0 loss to Parma on Wednesday, in one of four fixtures rescheduled from Monday due to the death of Pope Francis. The defeat marks the first under new head coach Igor Tudor and could prove pivotal in Juve’s race for a top-four finish.
The decisive moment came just before half-time when Mateo Pellegrino rose to meet a cross with a powerful header, handing Parma a crucial victory in their fight to avoid relegation. The win, Parma’s first in two months after enduring six consecutive draws, lifts them six points clear of the drop zone.
Juventus, who now sit in fifth place with 59 points, are just one point behind Bologna, who leapfrogged them into the final Champions League position after their impressive win over Inter Milan on Sunday. Tudor’s side will also have to contend with the potential absence of key striker Dusan Vlahovic in their upcoming clash against Monza, as he was taken off at half-time with a suspected thigh injury.
Meanwhile, Lazio capitalized on Juventus’ setback, pulling level on points with the Turin giants after a 2-0 victory away to Genoa. The match saw both teams reduced to 10 men, but Lazio made the most of their numerical advantage early on. Genoa’s Sebastian Otoa was shown a red card just 21 minutes into his Serie A debut, and Lazio took immediate control. A stunning volley from Valentin Castellanos put them ahead 11 minutes later, before Boulaye Dia doubled the lead in the second half following an excellent assist from Nicolo Ravella.
Despite losing Reda Belahyane to a red card shortly after he came on as a substitute, Lazio held firm to secure the win and tighten the race for a top-four finish.
Elsewhere, Fiorentina kept their own Champions League ambitions alive with a comeback 2-1 victory at Cagliari. With this win, the Florence-based club climbed to eighth place, joining Juventus, Lazio, and Roma in a tightly packed chase for the fourth and final Champions League spot — all four sides now sit within four points of Bologna.
