Serie A: Juve comeback to win, Roma hold Napoli

David Cooper - Writer 04:28 14/12/2015
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  • Fantastic finish: Mandzukic.

    Juventus came from behind to beat Fiorentina 3-1 in Turin on Sunday night, as Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala both scored in the final 10 minutes.

    Title challenging Fiorentina lost ground to Serie A leaders Inter in the defeat despite going ahead within the opening three minutes.

    Josep Ilicic had La Viola in front early on in the encounter, converting a spot-kick from 12-yards after Federico Bernardeschi was brought down in the box by Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini. But Massimiliano Allegri’s men hit back immediately, as former Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado headed in at the back post after meeting Patrice Evra’s deep left-wing cross.

    With 80 minutes on the clock Mario Mandzukic won the game, crashing in a loose ball following Paulo Dybala’s rebounded effort, before the former Palermo forward sealed a vital victory in the dying minute.

    Elsewhere on Sunday night, Wojciech Szczesny excelled in the Roma goal as title hopefuls Napoli were held to a 0-0 draw at the Stadio San Paolo.

    Fourth-placed Roma looked more likely to score in the first half but Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli turned the screw after the break, with only on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny standing between them and a seventh straight home win.

    The Giallorossi might complain that Daniele De Rossi had a late goal ruled out due to a debatable line call, but in reality taking a point from their top four rivals represents a timely upturn in league form after a severe slump.

    Misfiring AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by basement boys Hellas Verona at San Siro. Sinisa Mihajlovic has watched his Rossoneri drop points to the likes of Atalanta and Carpi in recent weeks and the club’s mission to return to the Champions League places is looking increasingly frangible.

    The seventh-placed side took the lead through Carlos Bacca shortly after half-time, but paid a heavy price for Nigel de Jong’s decision to commit a professional foul.

    The midfielder was sent off and Luca Toni levelled from the spot. Verona, meanwhile, remain winless this season yet show clear signs of improvement under new boss Luigi Delneri.

    Finally, Massimo Maccarone scored twice and set up a third goal as upwardly-mobile Empoli brushed struggling Carpi aside 3-0 at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.

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