Juventus close in on fifth Serie A title

Juventus will claim a fifth straight title in Italy’s top flight if second-placed Napoli fail to beat Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. But judging by the jubilant post-match scenes in Florence, where Allegri was thrown in the air by his players, it is now only a matter of time before Juve are crowned champions for the fifth year running.

Yet it was a rollercoaster game at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, Alvaro Morata scrambling in what turned out to be the winner on 83 minutes just after Kalinic had cancelled out Mario Mandzukic’s 39th-minute opener only two minutes earlier. Buffon then stopped the Croatian’s spot-kick at the death after he had been hauled down by Juan Cuadrado. 

Davide Astori spurned a great chance in injury time, the Italian’s header from a tight angle coming off post and crossbar as Buffon scrambled to get the ball to safety. Juve’s 27th win in 35 games leaves the Turin giants on 85 points, 12 ahead of Napoli ahead of their visit to the Stadio Olimpico today when 30-goal striker Gonzalo Higuain will make his return from a threematch ban for the visitors. 

Coach Massimiliano Allegri said last week he would happily watch Juve crowned champions on television if Roma beat Napoli later today.

But he told Sky Sport: “We have to keep the tension high because we also have the Italian Cup final to play (against AC Milan), that’s our second objective this season.

“Winning in Florence wasn’t easy, the lads played very well against a great Fiorentina that was dangerous and would have deserved a draw.” 

Fiorentina remain fifth and firmly in contention for a Europa League place, but Paulo Sousa’s men are now in danger of seeing their six-point lead on AC Milan reduced if the Rossoneri beat Carpi later today.

Fiorentina had reason to be furious at the half-time interval after a well-worked move that saw Josip Ilicic send Federico Bernardeschi through to beat Buffon on the half hour.