Juventus Verona Draw Leaves Spalletti Disappointed As Top-four Hopes Fade

Juventus dropped points again in Serie A, drawing 1-1 with already-relegated Hellas Verona at the Allianz Stadium, and Luciano Spalletti admitted there was frustration and regret after a result that stalled Juventus' attempt to secure a Champions League place early.

The Bianconeri extended an unbeaten run to nine league matches, yet the outcome hurt their position, as Juventus missed the opportunity to move five points ahead of fifth-place Como, with only three fixtures left in the Serie A season.

Verona, already condemned to relegation, struck first when Kieron Bowie finished in the first half, silencing the home crowd, and although Dusan Vlahovic equalised after the interval with a precise free-kick, Juventus could not force a winner and had to settle for a single point.

Juventus have struggled at home against sides in trouble this season, and the draw with Verona means Juventus have failed to win four of their last six Serie A home games against teams that started the matchday in the relegation zone, with Juventus recording two wins and four draws in that sequence.

Spalletti accepted that performance levels were uneven, even while arguing that the balance of play favoured Juventus, and Spalletti stressed the need to quickly learn from the setback, saying: "We must always evaluate what happens, analyse things, and then try to improve for the next matches, because those are the ones that matter now, seeing as we didn't win this one, hetold Sky Sport Italia."

The coach then expanded on Juventus' mood and the key moments that escaped the team, explaining that missed chances and lapses in focus hurt the result, and Spalletti underlined how mental clarity separates top players during difficult matches at this stage of a league campaign.

"Clearly, we are disappointed, we have regrets, and, unfortunately, this happens in football. We were not fortunate, and with a little more sharpness, we could've turned it around, even if you cannot always control everything. What we can do is stay clear-headed in the moments that matter, and we didn't do it. That is one of the qualities that makes a great player, because you can identify those moments where you've got to be fully concentrated. I thought we had started quite well, but then Verona locked it down, as is only right for them to do. We created some dangers, but couldn't break through the right way, then allowed them a few counter-attacks. We made mistakes that you see from kids.Then in the second half, you pin them back and have great moments of football that deserve to win a match.We played our game, and I think, overall, we did deserve to win it."

Spalletti felt Verona's deep defence after the opening goal forced Juventus into crowded areas, and several attacks broke down, while Verona threatened on counters when Juventus over-committed, although sustained pressure after half-time, especially once Vlahovic scored, created enough situations that Spalletti believed should have produced a winning goal.

This is the second time under Spalletti that Juventus have drawn two consecutive Serie A matches, with the previous sequence arriving in November against Torino and Fiorentina, and with Champions League qualification still not secured, Juventus will try to convert their current nine-match unbeaten streak into wins during the final three league games.