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Sports / Football

Serie A leader Juventus held by Atalanta to 2-2

Published: 29 Apr 2017 - 08:27 am | Last Updated: 03 Nov 2021 - 01:12 am
Juventus' Argentinian forward Gonzalo Gerardo Higuain (2ndL) vies with Atalanta players during the Italian Serie A football match Atalanta vs Juventus at the

Juventus' Argentinian forward Gonzalo Gerardo Higuain (2ndL) vies with Atalanta players during the Italian Serie A football match Atalanta vs Juventus at the "Atleti Azzurri d'Italia" stadium in Bergamo on April 28, 2017. / AFP / MIGUEL MEDINA

AP

BERGAMO, Italy: Serie A leader Juventus was held by host Atalanta to 2-2 on Friday.

Juventus thought it won when Dani Alves headed in seven minutes from time but Remo Freuler leveled six minutes later.

On-loan Juventus midfielder Leonardo Spinazzola scored an own goal for his parent club to cancel out Andrea Conti's opener on the stroke of halftime.

Juventus moved nine points clear of Roma, which hosts Lazio in the capital derby on Sunday.

Atalanta, which is hoping to qualify for the Europa League, moved level on points with Lazio in 12th.

Massimiliano Allegri opted not to rotate his squad despite the match coming five days before Juventus visits Monaco for the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.

Juventus started in a lackuster fashion and didn't have a shot until the 26th minute when Gonzalo Higuain's swiveling volley didn't have the power to trouble Etrit Berisha.

Atalanta should have broken the deadlock on the half hour but Gianluigi Buffon rushed out to clear Freuler's attempt with his legs.

The home side did take a deserved lead just before halftime when Alejandro Gomez chipped in a delightful cross to the back post where Conti bundled in from close range.

Juventus leveled five minutes after the break as Spinazzola headed Miralem Pjanic's free kick into his own net.

The visitors were furious shortly afterwards as they felt they should have been awarded a penalty for a Rafael Toloi handball in the area.

Alves was thought to have scored the winner for Juventus when he met Pjanic's cross with a diving header, but Atalanta equalized a minute from time. Freuler's shot was saved by Buffon but the midfielder kept his composure to finish off the rebound.