Parma hold Juventus

Juventus saw their lead at the top of Serie A cut to just three points after a 1-1 draw at Parma.

Juventus saw their lead at the top of Serie A cut to just three points as a fine individual goal from Nicola Sansone kept Parma's lengthy unbeaten home run intact with a 1-1 draw. Antonio Conte's Juve were desperate to atone for last weekend's surprise defeat to Sampdoria, a result which saw Lazio close to within five points of the league leaders. Andrea Pirlo threatened to hand Parma a first home defeat since March with his fortuitous free-kick just after the break, but Sansone danced behind the Juve backline to level the tie and rescue a deserved point. With Lazio cruising to a 2-0 victory over Atalanta, and Napoli staying in touch with a 3-0 win against Palermo, Juve are under pressure to beat Udinese next week. Local hero Sebastian Giovinco received a warm reception on his return to the Tardini, but he dictated much of Juve's ominous forward play in the early exchanges. Parma enjoyed the first tangible chance, though, Massimo Gobbi and Amauri combining to test Buffon before the Bianconeri wrested control back from their hosts. After a long period of possession, Fabio Quagliarella found himself in good space to test Antonio Mirante with a hard and low left-footed drive. The Gialloblu reasserted their dominance, Martin Caceres forced to snatch the ball from Ishak Belfodil's feet following good work from Jonathan Biabiany. Paul Pogba fired just wide at the other end and Leonardo Bonucci's wayward long-range effort inspired Conte to bellow in disgust from the touchline. Parma continued to keep the Bianconeri under the cosh with a fast-paced passing game and Conte had Stephan Lichtsteiner to thank when he cleared Belfodil's strike off the line. The Swiss then wriggled free down the right wing to pick out Quagliarella in the box, the ex-Palermo man's header coming up short when Pogba had been lurking nearby. Mirante would pull off a miraculous save in the 36th minute as Andrea Barzagli picked out his man in the box, only for Quagliarella's shot to be snaffled by the Parma keeper. Pirlo sent Mirante sprawling across his goalmouth to keep out a swerving free-kick, but it was Juventus who were lucky to reach the break level. There was a touch of fortune about Juve's goal, too, as another Pirlo set-piece beat Mirante in the 52nd minute, courtesy of a heavy deflection off Biabiany. Juve remained on top, but Biabany went some way to atoning for his role in the opener by breaking up a dangerous move between Pogba and Arturo Vidal. Roberto Donadoni removed the largely ineffectual Amauri for Sansone in the 77th minute and soon the home fans had something to sing about. Paletta's quick pass arrived at Sansone's feet, the Germany-born forward promptly streaking past Caceres to beat Buffon and level the match. Juve began to press hard but substitute Mirko Vucinic could only summon up the weakest of shots, with Lichtsteiner's dangerous ball failing to find a Bianconeri shirt. Another disappointing result may have hit Conte's men hard, but they were lucky to hold onto a solitary point as Belfodil arrived inches short of Afriyie Acquah's cross to the back post.