Juventus are champs
| Date :21-May-2019 |
Turin (Italy)
Juventus lifted the Italian Champion’s trophy at the Allianz stadium in Turin moments after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Atlanta late Sunday night. The pool toppers, enjoying a points tally of 90 have merely one match to play next week and are beyond doubt the champions with Napoli their nearest competitors being at 79 and in no position to surpass them, also having only their last match to play next week. Juve’s opponents of Sunday’s match, Atalanta, moved into third place in Serie A and within touching distance of Champions League qualification with this draw in what was Massimiliano Allegri’s last home game in charge of the champions. Josip Ilicic profited from some dozy defending to tap in the opener for the visitors during the first half, but Juve substitute Mario Mandzukic equalised with 10 minutes remaining.
The victory elevated the Bergamo side to third, level on 66 points with Inter Milan but ahead on head-to-head record. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side will be assured of a top four finish if they beat Sassuolo in their final game of the season next weekend. “It’s a positive result,” Gasperini told Sky Italia. “Now we need to reach the finish line, so much work has been done and now we must go for it against Sassuolo. We still need to give everything.” Juventus, who clinched an eighth successive Serie A title almost a month ago, announced this week that Allegri would leave the club at the end of the season.
The home crowd bid farewell to the coach after five trophy-laden years, while veteran defender Andrea Barzagli also took to the Allianz Stadium pitch for the final time. Juventus’ form has dipped dramatically since they secured the title and they have now gone four league matches without a win for the first time since 2012. INTER’S CL HOPES HANG Inter Milan’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were left hanging in the balance after they slumped to an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at Napoli in Serie A on Sunday. Inter, who would have clinched a place in Europe’s elite club competition with a victory, must now win their final game at home to Empoli, who are fighting relegation and have won their last three games, to guarantee a top-four finish.