Rome, Feb. 14 (BNA): Juventus defender Danilo scored the equalizer in stoppage time to save the 1-1 Serie A draw with Atalanta on Sunday and earn a point that could be decisive for the Bianconeri’s top four ambitions.
The Brazil international nodded in a corner kick in the 92nd minute and canceled out a long-range thunderbolt from Ruslan Malinovsky that put Atalanta on the verge of reclaiming fourth place, Reuters reported.
The two teams had their chance in a strong confrontation in Bergamo, where Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportillo blocked Dusan Vlahovic with a superb chance and Hans Hatebor hit the crossbar for the hosts.
The signing of Vlahovic from Fiorentina in January has led to some claims that Juventus are still in the title race, but coach Massimiliano Allegri has ruled that out, with his side now nine points behind leaders AC Milan.
“It was already official before tonight, there are a lot of points to make up in the three teams that are ahead of us,” Allegri told DAZN.
“We will always need to win, that is impossible. We have to focus on fourth place and improve our performance.”
Juventus retains fourth place with 46 points, two ahead of Atalanta, but coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s team has a game in hand.
Allegri claimed before his team’s trip to Bergamo that it would not be decisive in the top four race.
But with 14 minutes to go, Juventus were staring at the barrel at a defeat that would have left them one point behind Atalanta, having played a game more.
Atalanta’s lead came in exceptional circumstances in the 76th minute, as Malinovsky hit a free kick and the substitute smashed a powerful shot into the roof of the net from 25 yards.
It was a huge target for the hosts, but they couldn’t hold their own as Danilo rose well to header into the top corner late and extended Atalanta’s winless run to five games in all competitions.
Both teams threatened before the late goals streak, as Vlahovic scored a superb save for Sportello two minutes later.
Wojciech Szczesny took a big risk when he lunged out of his box and hit the Tion Cupminers, but Luis Morell’s shot into the unprotected net topped and the Juventus goalkeeper was not penalized.
Matisse de Ligt twice threw himself in front of Jeremy Boga’s dangerous effort before the break, while Vlahovic’s shot was again curled by Sportello at the start of the second half.
The Malinovskyi piledriver finally broke the deadlock and Hateboer was inches away when he met the Ukrainian’s cross at the back post and fired off the crossbar from close range.
The winger was paid to pay for his inaccuracy when Paulo Dybala kicked a corner kick into Danilo’s head upon death.