Updated at 23.58
JUVENTUS CRASHED to a humiliating 2-0 defeat at Cagliari on Wednesday days after sealing their ninth consecutive Serie A title, with their Champions League last 16 return leg looming.
Cagliari’s 20-year-old forward Luca Gagliano tapped in the opener eight minutes into his first Serie A match, beating veteran Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon to score his first top division goal.
And the young Italian then teed up Giovanni Simeone in first half stoppage time to give Cagliari their first win over Juventus in 11 years.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed the chance to keep pace with Serie A’s leading scorer Ciro Immobile, the Portuguese now four goals behind the Lazio forward’s tally of 35 with one match remaining.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had a goal ruled offside after 16 minutes and was denied twice by Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno as the 13th-placed Sardinians ended their eight-match winless run.
It was a worrying performance for Maurizio Sarri’s side, who have won just two of their last seven games, with key forwards Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa fighting for fitness ahead of the Champions League showdown with Lyon on August 7 in Turin, when they need to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.
- Immobile on target -
In Rome, Immobile moved to within one goal of equalling the Serie A single season scoring record as Lazio beat relegated Brescia 2-0 to stay in the race for second place.
Immobile struck eight minutes from time to close in on Gonzalo Higuain’s record of 36 goals, scored for Napoli in 2015-16.
Lazio are fourth, equal on 78 points with third-placed Atalanta, who beat Parma 2-1 on Tuesday, and one adrift of Inter Milan who are second following their 2-0 win over Napoli.
Inter and Atalanta will go head-to-head this weekend with Lazio’s last game at seventh-placed Napoli.
Immobile helped Joaquin Correa open the scoring after 16 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico, with Correa returning the favour late on.
Behind the top four, who are assured of Champions League football next season, Roma sealed their Europa League group stage berth with a 3-2 win at Torino.
Napoli have already secured their place as a result of their Italian Cup win while AC Milan, who will finish sixth, must go through the Europa League qualifying rounds despite beating Sampdoria 4-1.
- Zlatan AKA ‘Benjamin Button’ -
Stefano Pioli’s side remain four points behind Roma after Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice and set up a third in a dominating display against Samp.
The 38-year-old got his head to an Ante Rebic cross within four minutes in Genoa for his fastest goal in the Italian top flight, before nodding the ball across for Hakan Calhanoglu to add the second six minutes after the break.
Turkish winger Calhanoglu provided the cross which allowed Ibrahimovic to add his second of the night.
Leao added a fourth in injury time as Milan extended their unbeaten run to 11 games.
Ibrahimovic has scored nine league goals since rejoining Milan in January.
The veteran brings his club tally to 51 goals for the club, combined with his previous stint between 2010 and 2012.
He also becomes the first player to have scored 50 goals for both Milan clubs, with 57 netted during his time at city rivals Inter from 2006 to 2009.
“Like Benjamin Button, I’ve always been young, never old,” said Ibrahimovic of the film of a man who ages in reverse.
“They tell me I’m old and tired but I’m just warming up.”
Lecce’s bid for survival will go down to the final day after they came from behind to beat Udinese 2-1.
The southern club occupy the final relegation position but are now just one point behind 17th-placed Genoa, who were hammered 5-0 at Sassuolo.
Both Lecce and Genoa will face Parma and Hellas Verona respectively at the weekend hoping to avoid joining Brescia and SPAL in Serie B.
As a Leinster fan I wish Ulster and Munster well in the quarter finals. Its good to see two Irish teams still in it.
Bad luck Leinster, still it’s good to see Munster got trough.
As a leinster fan I’m sorry to see it happen but it was inevitable after the home Clermont match. In the years we won it we always had a dominating player in the pack – Rocky Elsom, Nathan Hines, Brad Thorn – a guy other teams feared for their physicality and general intensity. These guys were abrasive personalites.
Leo Cullen, while a phenomenal captain, isn’t that sort of player. Devin Toner has no place on a Heineken cup team. He is neither abrasive or talented. The back row and front row, while all physically abrasive, seem not to be thorny individuals. We need someone getting in the face of opponents, on and off the ball. We need someone like the three above, like Dennis Leamy.
I agree for the most part, Cian Healy & Sean O Brien are both mean fookers. I think Leinster need a serious edge in the 2nd row.
Ahhhhh hahahahahaha…I love to see Irish teams doing well but for all the Leinster fans giving Munster fans sh*t over the years…sit on that!
Don’t gloat Thómas, Munster have been there before and will be again. Hard luck to Leinster, tough way to exit the competition. Munster abú.
don’t known any leinster fans that don’t support Munster in the Heineken. Get the chip off your shoulder
There’s no chip on my shoulder. Like I said I always like to see the Irish teams doing well but over the last few years Leinster fans felt the need to have a go at Munster while they were doing well so today I’ll revel in it
I’m sure there is a few idiot Leinster supporters who do give grief Tomás, just as Munster have a few fans like you. Any best of luck Munster and Ulster.
Terrible immature attitude, a man shouldn’t lower himself regardless of what when before. You’re only feeding a cycle of hate.
Sorry Tomas but years of ladyboy crap started all that stuff.
As for yesterday Leinster didn’t qualify because clermont beat us twice not because Munster scored more trys against the second team of 8th best team in France with 14 men.
Tomas when you win the title in Dublin ( and I really hope you do) then gloat all you want because if like last year when we won if you go to France and win a semi final you will deserve to be called the best team in Europe.
Leinster will now have a crack at the Amlin and the rabbo, if we win a title it will be enough to regroup for next year.
Fair play to Simon Zebo yesterday super display and will make the loss of tommy Bowe less hard to take next month.
Hard luck Leinster! Good to have 2 Irish teams still there hopefully if all goes to plan at Welford Road. Munster abu!
I’m all about international rugby, but it’s like a guilty pleasure knocking leinster out of the European cup while qualifying for the quarters.
Hard luck to Leinster and tough way to leave the competition…….
Are they the first champions to go out at pool stage?
Where was this famous strength in depth they always bang on about?
3. 2. Now
3. 2. Next may
Yawn !
Posted on 20/1/2013 is this the Journal’s April’s fool days contribution?