In a marquee Serie A showdown this round, Roma suffered a 1–2 home defeat to Juventus. The loss not only cost Roma valuable points but also laid bare their ongoing struggles against Italy’s elite.
To date, Roma have now lost all four matches played against the league’s top four sides this season.
The clash came in Serie A Round 16, with both teams starting cautiously. Roma tried to dictate the tempo with home advantage, but Juventus were solid at the back and looked to strike on the counter.
Near the end of the first half, Juventus broke the deadlock as Conceição finished calmly inside the box, giving the visitors a crucial lead heading into the break.
Roma’s Fightback Falls Short
After the interval, Roma stepped up their attacking intensity and pushed their defensive line higher in search of an equaliser.
However, in the 70th minute, Juventus exploited the space behind Roma’s defence, with Openda scoring to make it 2–0 and placing the hosts under even greater pressure.
Five minutes later, Roma reignited hope by forcing a turnover high up the pitch. Baldanzi capitalised on the mistake to pull one back, reducing the deficit to 1–2.
Despite sustained pressure in the closing stages, Roma were unable to breach Juventus’ defence again and ultimately had to accept defeat.
Four Games, Four Losses Against the Elite
This season, Roma have been beaten by Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli, and Juventus, losing all four encounters against the league’s heavyweights. Although they currently sit fourth in the standings and trail Inter by just three points, such results in head-to-head battles against top sides have raised doubts about their long-term prospects.
Juventus on the Rise, Top-Four Push Gathers Pace
Juventus, meanwhile, is showing clear signs of resurgence. They have now won three consecutive matches and six of their last seven games across all competitions. While they sit fifth in the table, four points behind leaders Inter, Juventus appear to have shaken off their early-season slump and are widely expected to return to the top four if this momentum continues.
Lazio Held to Goalless Draw by Cremonese
In another match on the same day, Lazio were held to a 0–0 home draw by Cremonese. The visitors’ centre-back, Ceccherini, was sent off late in the game, but the dismissal did not alter the outcome.
Lazio currently sit eighth in the table, though having played earlier, they could slip out of the top ten by the end of the round.
Overall, this round of Serie A intensified the battle for the top four and further highlighted the teams’ true strengths and weaknesses in key matchups.
