Juventus’ hopes of securing a Champions League spot took a major hit on Wednesday night, as they stumbled to a surprise 1-0 defeat away to relegation-battling Parma. The loss saw the Turin giants fall out of the Serie A top four, with Bologna now taking the coveted final Champions League slot.
The match, originally rescheduled from Monday following the death of Pope Francis, saw Parma’s Mateo Pellegrino rise highest just before the break to head in a powerful opener—and what turned out to be the match-winner. Despite a second-half push, Juventus couldn’t find a response.
The defeat marks the first under new coach Igor Tudor, and Juventus now find themselves sitting fifth in the standings, just one point behind Bologna, who stunned Inter Milan 2-1 on Sunday.
To make matters worse for Juventus, star striker Dusan Vlahovic was forced off at half-time with what is believed to be a thigh injury. His status remains uncertain ahead of their weekend clash against Monza, adding another layer of concern for Tudor as the race for European qualification intensifies.
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For Parma, this was more than just a morale-boosting win—it was potentially season-saving. After going six games without a win—all of them draws—Wednesday’s victory gave them some breathing space, lifting them six points clear of the relegation zone. It was a gritty, determined performance that may just kickstart their survival bid.
While Juventus faltered, Lazio made no such mistake, cruising to a 2-0 win at Genoa in a match that turned feisty in the second half.
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Lazio were quick to capitalize on a red card shown to Genoa debutant Sebastian Otoa just 21 minutes into the game. A thunderous volley from Valentin Castellanos and a calm finish by Boulaye Dia sealed the deal for the visitors.
Despite Reda Belahyane being sent off shortly after coming on for Lazio, the damage had been done. With the win, Lazio now sit level on 59 points with Juventus, keeping the race for Europe wide open.
In another rescheduled fixture, Fiorentina kept their European dreams alive, coming from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory over Cagliari. The Viola now sit eighth but are just four points off fourth-placed Bologna, joining Juventus, Lazio, and Roma in what is shaping up to be a thrilling end to the Serie A season.
With just weeks to go, the fight for Italy’s final Champions League spots is heating up. Juventus, Lazio, Roma, Fiorentina, and Bologna are all in the mix—and with surprise results and injuries playing their part, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll come out on top.
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