Italian Serie A News, Results, Analysis and Features on Football Soccer

John O'Donnell On May - 13 - 2013

Juventus Miss Chance To Set New Record Points Total

Juventus missed the chance to set a new record points total as a great solo goal from Victor Ibarbo held the Champions to a 1-1 draw in Turin.

Juve had already clinched the Scudetto title last week with a win against Palermo but were now targeting the 91 points record set by Fabio Capello’s Juventus team in the 2005/06 season, despite this title later being stripped from the club during the Calciopoli scandal. Cagliari meanwhile had little to play for as they were outside the fight for European places and also safe from relegation, they welcomed back Mauricio Pinilla into their starting line-up

as he returned from suspension. There were a few changes for Juventus as Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba were both suspended while Gigi Buffon and Stephan Lichtsteiner were among those rested as the likes of Mauricio Isla and Luca Marrone were given a chance to impress.

There was a party atmosphere inside the Juventus Stadium as the hosts looked to celebrate their recent title success but they went behind early in the first half to a goal from Cagliari striker Ibarbo who picked up the ball on the edge of his own box after his side cleared a corner and he ran forward with the ball and when he realised no support was arriving he decided to go himself as he darted between two Juventus defenders before slotting into the net despite Marco Storari getting a hand to the ball.

Just after the goal Andrea Barzagli went off with an injury and he was replaced by Martin Caceres. Juventus then came more into the match with Sebastian Giovinco trying to inspire his side back into the game and he came closest to doing just that as he curled a great free kick over the wall but the ball hit the crossbar and Arturo Vidal sent the ball over from the rebound after a scramble in the box.

Mirko Vucinic came on for Giovinco early in the second half and just 10 minutes later he got his side level as he tapped in at the back post after Vidal had headed the ball back across goal from a Marchisio cross.

Juve then had a few chances to take the lead as Isla came close and Vucinic could only shoot straight at the keeper after he beat the offside trap but in the end it finished 1-1.

After the match the celebrations begun as the squad came back out onto the pitch to collect their winner’s medals and Captain Gigi Buffon lifted the Scudetto trophy just like Alessandro Del Piero had done the year before as Juventus retained their title and few could argue they seem favourites to do it all again next season.

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