Juventus survives nervy finish to go top again
Juventus was thankful for a 94th-minute winner from Federico Gatti as it survived an astonishing finish against Monza to win 2-1 and go back to the top of the Serie A table for at least the next 48 hours.
The hosts had looked like rescuing a point when Valentin Carboni struck at the start of stoppage-time to cancel out Adrien Rabiot’s 12th-minute opener.
But Juve would strike back deeper into added time as Gatti’s effort sealed the three points to take Massimiliano Allegri’s side one point clear of Inter Milan.
Dusan Vlahovic saw an early penalty saved by Michele Di Gregorio after Andrea Cambiaso had been upended in the box.
The visitors would not be kept at bay for long, though, as Rabiot broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when he headed home a corner.
Allegri’s men could not build on that lead, however, with Di Gregorio rarely tested.
The Monza goalkeeper kept out a driven Rabiot effort with ease while Gatti fired over from distance with chances at a minimum.
Monza thought it had made Juve pay for not doubling its advantage when substitute Carboni scored.
His ball into the box evaded everyone and drifted in past Juve stopper Wojciech Szczesny as the home side scored with its first effort on target of the night.
Despite the celebrations, Monza could not hold on for a point as Juventus threw men forward and Rabiot crossed low for the unmarked Gatti.
The defender fluffed his lines with his first chance but thrashed the ball home at the second attempt to seal a dramatic win for the visitors.
The victory takes Juventus top of the table, moving a point clear of Inter Milan, which faces a tough trip to fourth-placed defending champion Napoli on Monday (AEDT).
