Juve in a nutshell: Poor display, but a win in the end

Those who regularly watch Juventus' games this season would describe their usual performances as lackluster, mediocre, subpar... At the same time, their matches are most often dull, uninspiring, lifeless...

And still, that same Juventus currently hold third place in the Serie A, just one point behind the leaders Inter Milan, which, truth be told, have two games in hand.

Either way, Luciano Spalletti's men last night recorded their fourth straight win in all competitions - or seventh in the previous eight games, if you wish - and, a bit under the radar, entered the title race.

The Bianconeri's latest victim was Pisa, which put in one of the best performances in the campaign, hit the woodwork twice over Stefano Moreo and Matteo Tramoni, had the Turin giants on the ropes, but failed to win at least a point - 2-0.

The final verdict came inside the final 20 minutes, when Arturo Calabresi broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute with an own goal after a clumsy reaction of the home team's defence in the box, while Kenan Yildiz sealed the deal in added time following Fabio Miretti's skilful solo effort.

Hence, Juve are third, though all the teams surrounding them, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Napoli, have two games in hand, and play today, keen on responding to the Old Lady's challenge.

One billion offered for Juventus, Agnelli family reacted

The Rossoneri will step on the pitch of San Siro first against another crew from the relegation zone, Hellas Verona (14.30). Two and a half hours later, Antonio Conte's Neapolitans will face Cremonese on the road, while the derby clash is scheduled for 22.45 in Bergamo, where Atalanta and the Nerazzurri will lock horns.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 17

Saturday

Parma - Fiorentina 1-0 (0-0)

/Sorensen 48/

Lecce - Como 0-3 (0-1)

/Paz 20, Ramon 66, Douvikas 75/

Torino - Cagliari 1-2 (1-1)

/Vlasic 28 - Prati 45, Kilicsoj 66/

Udinese - Lazio 1-1 (0-0)

/Davis 90+5 - Solet 80 og/

Pisa - Juventus 0-2 (0-0)

/Calabresi 73 og, Yildiz 90+2/

Sunday

14.30: (1.42) AC Milan (4.80) Verona (9.00)

17.00: (6.50) Cremonese (3.80) Napoli (1.57)

20.00: (1.80) Bologna (3.60) Sassuolo (5.10)

22.45: (3.90) Atalanta (3.60) Inter Milan (2.05)

Monday

22.45: (1.62) Roma (3.75) Genoa (6.00)

***odds are subject to change***