Serie A 2016/17, Roma 3-1 Juventus: 5 talking points
It was supposed to be the night Juventus ticked one off the list, but instead, they must head back to the drawing board. A point against Roma would on Sunday night would have been enough to secure a sixth straight Serie A title for the Old Lady, ahead of Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final against Lazio and of course facing Real Madrid in the Champions League final on June 3.
But Roma came into the game at the Stadio Olimpico with faint title hopes themselves, although their main focus will have been regaining second place after Napoli beat Torino 5-0 to leapfrog them earlier in the day.
Here are five talking points from the events which unfolded:
#1 Gigi Buffon is human after all
Some players deserve a status of the highest order within football and Gianluigi Buffon is one of them. Few have made an impression on the game like Juventus’ 39-year-old goalkeeper, and such is his reputation, it is hard to think of him making any mistakes at all.
But on two occasions, he proved costly. His side took the lead in the first half after calming the game down, Roma had started well, but despite a weakened side, Juve appeared keen to get their 33rd title wrapped up as soon as possible.
Just four minutes after scoring, though, Juve let in an equaliser. A corner was met well in the first phase, only for Buffon to parry the ball as opposed to catching it. He didn’t get anywhere near enough purchase on it, and it fell to Roma captain Daniele De Rossi, who bundled home.
Fast-forward to the second half, when Stephan El Shaarawy cut in from the left-hand side and unleashed an extremely tame shot that crept in, leaving Buffon stranded. The lack of pace on the ball meant that someone of the Juve captain’s quality really should have saved it, even if it is tough for us to admit it.