Lautaro Martinez's first-half brace sent Inter Milan top of Serie A on Sunday with a 2-1 win over SPAL after champions <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/juventus-inter-milan-return-to-serie-a-duel-as-napoli-try-to-snap-winless-run-265161">Juventus</a> were held at home by Sassuolo.

"We didn't use our heads," lamented Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri after his side dropped their first points at home this season.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-back-against-favourite-enemy-atletico-264553">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> scored from the spot to rescue a 2-2 draw but Juventus slipped one point behind Antonio Conte's Inter.

Argentinian Martinez put Inter ahead on 16 minutes at the San Siro, and then headed in Antonio Candreva's cross to score his eighth league goal this season.

Mattia Valoti pulled a goal back, but second-from-bottom SPAL fell to their ninth defeat of the campaign.

Conte has guided Chinese-owned Inter to 12 victories in 14 league games for the first time, and they reclaimed the top spot which they had previously held until their 2-1 defeat by Juventus on October 6.

"When a team like Juventus drops points, you need to make sure that you make the most of that," said former Juve coach Conte.

In Turin, Leonardo Bonucci struck early for the eight-time reigning champions but Ivorian Jeremie Boga and Francesco Caputo hit back for Sassuolo before Ronaldo's intervention.

Sassuolo, in 12th, claimed their first ever point at Juventus, and held Sarri's unbeaten champions to their third draw this season.

"We got into trouble on our own, we didn't use our heads in the first half, as the goals conceded show," said Sarri.

"But we were coming off two games in which we used up a lot of energy against Atalanta and Atletico Madrid. We woke up after going behind."

Veteran Gianluigi Buffon endured a nightmare in the Juventus goal.

The 41-year-old was making just his fifth start this season, putting him two short of Paolo Maldini's record of 647 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/serie-a-juventus-dybala-sinks-milan-as-angry-ronaldo-substituted-261314">Serie A</a> appearances.

Boga dinked the first Sassuolo goal on 22 minutes over the onrushing Buffon, who then fumbled in Caputo's second after the break following a mix-up between Juan Cuadrado and Matthijs de Ligt.

Napoli crisis intensifies&nbsp;

By contrast, 18-year-old Stefano Turati made an impressive debut in the Sassuolo goal, and pulled off a string of fine saves, denying a Ronaldo free-kick, Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala late on.

Ronaldo's penalty pulled the hosts level in the 68th minute after Filippo Romagna fouled substitute Dybala.

It was the Portuguese star's fifth Serie A goal this season, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner also having an effort ruled out for offside.

"Ronaldo has regained stamina, the next step will be to recover brilliance, but the road is right," insisted Sarri.

Lazio consolidated third place,&nbsp;seven points behind Inter,&nbsp;with a 3-0 win over Udinese thanks to a double from Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile, including one from the spot, to bring his tally to 17 goals this season, and a Luis Alberto penalty.

Roma moved up to fourth, two points behind their city rivals, after a 3-1 win at midtable Verona, ahead of Cagliari, who host Sampdoria on Monday.

Justin Kluivert score after 17 minutes in Verona with Diego Perotti converting a penalty just before the break, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan adding a third in injury time.

But Napoli's winless run stretched to eight games in all competitions with a 2-1 defeat at home by Bologna, leaving last season's runners-up in seventh.

Bologna got their first win since October 27 with coach Sinisa Mihajlovic back on the bench following a bone marrow transplant as he fights leukaemia.

Despite taking a point in their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-liverpool-and-napoli-left-with-work-to-do-after-anfield-draw-264987">Champions League game</a> at Liverpool in midweek Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli are five points off the top four.

"It's a very delicate time for us," said Ancelotti.

Fernando Llorente put Napoli ahead four minutes before half-time, but Dane Andreas Skov Olsen volleyed in an equaliser just before the hour with Nicola Sansone scoring the winner 10 minutes from time.

Llorente thought he had scored a 95th-minute leveller, but it was ruled offside by VAR.

AC Milan, struggling in 11th, got their first win in a month, 1-0 at Parma.

Lautaro Martinez's first-half brace sent Inter Milan top of Serie A on Sunday with a 2-1 win over SPAL after champions Juventus were held at home by Sassuolo. "We didn't use our heads," lamented Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri after his side dropped their first points at home this season.

Lautaro Martinez's first-half brace sent Inter Milan top of Serie A on Sunday with a 2-1 win over SPAL after champions Juventus were held at home by Sassuolo. "We didn't use our heads," lamented Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri after his side dropped their first points at home this season. Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the spot to rescue a 2-2 draw but Juventus slipped one point behind Antonio Conte's Inter. Argentinian Martinez put Inter ahead on 16 minutes at the San Siro, and then headed in Antonio Candreva's cross to score his eighth league goal this season. Mattia Valoti pulled a goal back, but second-from-bottom SPAL fell to their ninth defeat of the campaign. Conte has guided Chinese-owned Inter to 12 victories in 14 league games for the first time, and they reclaimed the top spot which they had previously held until their 2-1 defeat by Juventus on October 6. "When a team like Juventus drops points, you need to make sure that you make the most of that," said former Juve coach Conte. In Turin, Leonardo Bonucci struck early for the eight-time reigning champions but Ivorian Jeremie Boga and Francesco Caputo hit back for Sassuolo before Ronaldo's intervention. Sassuolo, in 12th, claimed their first ever point at Juventus, and held Sarri's unbeaten champions to their third draw this season. "We got into trouble on our own, we didn't use our heads in the first half, as the goals conceded show," said Sarri. "But we were coming off two games in which we used up a lot of energy against Atalanta and Atletico Madrid. We woke up after going behind." Veteran Gianluigi Buffon endured a nightmare in the Juventus goal. The 41-year-old was making just his fifth start this season, putting him two short of Paolo Maldini's record of 647 Serie A appearances. Boga dinked the first Sassuolo goal on 22 minutes over the onrushing Buffon, who then fumbled in Caputo's second after the break following a mix-up between Juan Cuadrado and Matthijs de Ligt. Napoli crisis intensifies By contrast, 18-year-old Stefano Turati made an impressive debut in the Sassuolo goal, and pulled off a string of fine saves, denying a Ronaldo free-kick, Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala late on. Ronaldo's penalty pulled the hosts level in the 68th minute after Filippo Romagna fouled substitute Dybala. It was the Portuguese star's fifth Serie A goal this season, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner also having an effort ruled out for offside. "Ronaldo has regained stamina, the next step will be to recover brilliance, but the road is right," insisted Sarri. Lazio consolidated third place, seven points behind Inter, with a 3-0 win over Udinese thanks to a double from Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile, including one from the spot, to bring his tally to 17 goals this season, and a Luis Alberto penalty. Roma moved up to fourth, two points behind their city rivals, after a 3-1 win at midtable Verona, ahead of Cagliari, who host Sampdoria on Monday. Justin Kluivert score after 17 minutes in Verona with Diego Perotti converting a penalty just before the break, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan adding a third in injury time. But Napoli's winless run stretched to eight games in all competitions with a 2-1 defeat at home by Bologna, leaving last season's runners-up in seventh. Bologna got their first win since October 27 with coach Sinisa Mihajlovic back on the bench following a bone marrow transplant as he fights leukaemia. Despite taking a point in their Champions League game at Liverpool in midweek Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli are five points off the top four. "It's a very delicate time for us," said Ancelotti. Fernando Llorente put Napoli ahead four minutes before half-time, but Dane Andreas Skov Olsen volleyed in an equaliser just before the hour with Nicola Sansone scoring the winner 10 minutes from time. Llorente thought he had scored a 95th-minute leveller, but it was ruled offside by VAR. AC Milan, struggling in 11th, got their first win in a month, 1-0 at Parma.

Martinez fires Inter top of Serie A as Juventus slip up

Former European Cup&nbsp;winners&nbsp;AC&nbsp;Milan&nbsp;endured a bittersweet 3-2&nbsp;win&nbsp;at&nbsp;SPAL&nbsp;in the last round of the Serie A,&nbsp;finishing the campaign&nbsp;outside the&nbsp;top&nbsp;four&nbsp;after their nearest rivals both booked their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-arsenal-top-four-hopes-all-but-over-after-brighton-draw-216202">Champions League</a> berths on Sunday.

The result left&nbsp;Milan&nbsp;fifth on 68 points, one behind third-placed Atalanta and&nbsp;fourth-placed city rivals Inter, meaning they will have to be content with the Europa League next season.

Atalanta came from behind to beat Sassuolo 3-1 at home while Inter eked&nbsp;out&nbsp;a 2-1&nbsp;win&nbsp;against relegated Empoli at the San Siro.

"I am happy with the development of my players, I think many of them have improved a lot," said&nbsp;AC&nbsp;Milan&nbsp;coach Gennaro Gattuso, whose future with the club is uncertain. "We can still get better although it will not be easy to improve this season's 68 points.

"The biggest regret is that in the last few months we have not played well and we have lost too many points, but all in all our work has been good," he added. "There are regrets but also pride. I've congratulated the squad for what they have given me this season."

Hakan Calhanoglu fired&nbsp;Milan&nbsp;ahead in the 18th minute with a first-time shot from the edge of the penalty area after Franck Kessie played the ball into the Turkey midfielder's strike from the left flank.

Kessie doubled&nbsp;Milan's lead shortly afterwards when poor&nbsp;SPAL&nbsp;defending gave the Ivorian playmaker time and space to tee himself up for a left-footed shot into the roof of the net from close range.

The home side pulled one back in the 28th minute after left-back Francesco Vicari found the&nbsp;top&nbsp;left the corner with a glancing header and levelled early in the second half, Mohamed Fares meeting Alessandro Murgia's cross with a thumping header.

Kessie converted a 66th-minute penalty after Krzysztof Piatek was hauled down to rekindle&nbsp;Milan's hopes of earning Champions League football next season but their joy was short-lived as news of the other results came through.

Former European Cup winners AC Milan endured a bittersweet 3-2 win at SPAL in the last round of the Serie A, finishing the campaign outside the top four after their nearest rivals both booked their Champions League berths on Sunday.

Former European Cup winners AC Milan endured a bittersweet 3-2 win at SPAL in the last round of the Serie A, finishing the campaign outside the top four after their nearest rivals both booked their Champions League berths on Sunday. The result left Milan fifth on 68 points, one behind third-placed Atalanta and fourth-placed city rivals Inter, meaning they will have to be content with the Europa League next season. Atalanta came from behind to beat Sassuolo 3-1 at home while Inter eked out a 2-1 win against relegated Empoli at the San Siro. "I am happy with the development of my players, I think many of them have improved a lot," said AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso, whose future with the club is uncertain. "We can still get better although it will not be easy to improve this season's 68 points. "The biggest regret is that in the last few months we have not played well and we have lost too many points, but all in all our work has been good," he added. "There are regrets but also pride. I've congratulated the squad for what they have given me this season." Hakan Calhanoglu fired Milan ahead in the 18th minute with a first-time shot from the edge of the penalty area after Franck Kessie played the ball into the Turkey midfielder's strike from the left flank. Kessie doubled Milan's lead shortly afterwards when poor SPAL defending gave the Ivorian playmaker time and space to tee himself up for a left-footed shot into the roof of the net from close range. The home side pulled one back in the 28th minute after left-back Francesco Vicari found the top left the corner with a glancing header and levelled early in the second half, Mohamed Fares meeting Alessandro Murgia's cross with a thumping header. Kessie converted a 66th-minute penalty after Krzysztof Piatek was hauled down to rekindle Milan's hopes of earning Champions League football next season but their joy was short-lived as news of the other results came through.

AC Milan miss out on top-four finish despite SPAL win

Juventus missed the chance to clinch an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as SPAL stunned them by coming from behind to win 2-1 at the Stadio Paolo Mazza, their first victory over Juve in 62 years.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side, already on 84 points, knew a draw would be enough to wrap up the championship with six rounds remaining and took the lead in the first half through Moise Kean.

However, the home side fought back after the break as goals from Kevin Bonifazi and Sergio Floccari secured their first win against the Italian champions since February 1957.

The Turin club can still be named champions this weekend if second-placed Napoli fail to win away to rock-bottom Chievo on Sunday.

Allegri stood by his decision to pick a heavily rotated side, with an eye towards Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Ajax in Turin, after the first leg ended 1-1.

“It would’ve been easy to field the first choice XI today and get the Scudetto but we’ve had such a remarkable run of results this season that it was more important to focus on the Champions League game coming up," he told Sky Italia.

“The key to Juventus winning the Scudetto is that we do well in the head-to-head clashes but above all bring home the points everywhere else.

"You usually win the Scudetto with 84-86 points but last term Napoli had 91 –- a club record –- and still finished second, so our performance that season was extraordinary."

It was Juventus’s second defeat of the league season and they remain 20 points clear of Napoli, while SPAL have risen to 13th place on 35 points, seven clear of the relegation zone.

Andrea Barzagli and Juan Cuadrado returned for Juve after injury lay-offs, while 17-year-old defender Paolo Gozzi and midfielder Grigoris Kastanos made their Serie A debuts for the club, as did substitute Stephy Mavdidi.

“We had a lot of young players and they did well but above all the second goal showed a lack of experience,” Allegri added.

“We reacted well in the second half but couldn’t get the game back on track. Paolo Gozzi had a good game, including after Barzagli went off. Kastanos was struggling a little in the role of mezz’ala, while (Hans) Nicolussi and Mavidi did well.

“I needed to see the condition of Juan Cuadrado, who is unfortunately off the Champions League squad list, and also Dybala, whose fitness levels weren’t at their best.

"The more he plays, the better shape he gets into. He rediscovered some enthusiasm today and it wasn’t easy for him psychologically of late to have only 20 minutes or so and then get hurt again.

“At a big club, you must fight every day to earn your space in the team and I am very happy with what he did today. It’s a good sign for Tuesday, as we must be ready and prepare for the potential of extra time too."

It was 19-year-old, on-form striker Kean who caught the eye again when he put Juve in front with an instinctive finish after 29 minutes.

However, SPAL were rewarded for an impressive start to the second half when Bonifazi rose to head in his team’s equaliser from a corner.

The hosts continued to play on the front foot and were rewarded with 15 minutes remaining when Floccari raced on to a loose ball in the area and swept a finish into the corner.

It was only SPAL’s second ever win against Juventus but marked their third successive home victory after they beat Roma and Lazio.

Juventus missed the chance to clinch an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as SPAL stunned them by coming from behind to win 2-1 at the Stadio Paolo Mazza, their first victory over Juve in 62 years.

Juventus missed the chance to clinch an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as SPAL stunned them by coming from behind to win 2-1 at the Stadio Paolo Mazza, their first victory over Juve in 62 years. Massimiliano Allegri’s side, already on 84 points, knew a draw would be enough to wrap up the championship with six rounds remaining and took the lead in the first half through Moise Kean. However, the home side fought back after the break as goals from Kevin Bonifazi and Sergio Floccari secured their first win against the Italian champions since February 1957. The Turin club can still be named champions this weekend if second-placed Napoli fail to win away to rock-bottom Chievo on Sunday. Allegri stood by his decision to pick a heavily rotated side, with an eye towards Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Ajax in Turin, after the first leg ended 1-1. “It would’ve been easy to field the first choice XI today and get the Scudetto but we’ve had such a remarkable run of results this season that it was more important to focus on the Champions League game coming up," he told Sky Italia. “The key to Juventus winning the Scudetto is that we do well in the head-to-head clashes but above all bring home the points everywhere else. "You usually win the Scudetto with 84-86 points but last term Napoli had 91 –- a club record –- and still finished second, so our performance that season was extraordinary." It was Juventus’s second defeat of the league season and they remain 20 points clear of Napoli, while SPAL have risen to 13th place on 35 points, seven clear of the relegation zone. Andrea Barzagli and Juan Cuadrado returned for Juve after injury lay-offs, while 17-year-old defender Paolo Gozzi and midfielder Grigoris Kastanos made their Serie A debuts for the club, as did substitute Stephy Mavdidi. “We had a lot of young players and they did well but above all the second goal showed a lack of experience,” Allegri added. “We reacted well in the second half but couldn’t get the game back on track. Paolo Gozzi had a good game, including after Barzagli went off. Kastanos was struggling a little in the role of mezz’ala, while (Hans) Nicolussi and Mavidi did well. “I needed to see the condition of Juan Cuadrado, who is unfortunately off the Champions League squad list, and also Dybala, whose fitness levels weren’t at their best. "The more he plays, the better shape he gets into. He rediscovered some enthusiasm today and it wasn’t easy for him psychologically of late to have only 20 minutes or so and then get hurt again. “At a big club, you must fight every day to earn your space in the team and I am very happy with what he did today. It’s a good sign for Tuesday, as we must be ready and prepare for the potential of extra time too." It was 19-year-old, on-form striker Kean who caught the eye again when he put Juve in front with an instinctive finish after 29 minutes. However, SPAL were rewarded for an impressive start to the second half when Bonifazi rose to head in his team’s equaliser from a corner. The hosts continued to play on the front foot and were rewarded with 15 minutes remaining when Floccari raced on to a loose ball in the area and swept a finish into the corner. It was only SPAL’s second ever win against Juventus but marked their third successive home victory after they beat Roma and Lazio.

Juventus title celebrations put on ice after shock defeat to SPAL

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