Staff Reporter.
Juventus were held to a draw by mid-table Verona and now sit seven points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan.
Andrea Pirlo’s side led when Cristiano Ronaldo slotted home with a first-time finish from Federico Chiesa’s pass, his 19th league goal of the season.
But Juve were poor and Verona equalised through Antonin Barak’s header from Darko Lazovic’s cross.
The defending Italian champions were hanging on at the end and Wojciech Szczesny denied Lazovic a winner.
Juve have picked up four points from their last four league games on the road, and the woodwork saved them twice against a spirited Verona side who deserved a point.
“When you’re in front in these games you need to bring them home,” Pirlo told DAZN. “We were definitely missing some experienced players. We had a lot of youngsters, so we had few players who could understand the game.
“I asked Cristiano and Alex Sandro to speak to them and help them understand, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.
“It’s a shame to leave two points behind, because the hardest thing is going in front and we should have taken advantage of this chance.”
Pirlo was faced with a selection crisis ahead of the trip to the Stadio Bentegodi, with six first-team players out injured and defender Danilo missing through suspension.
Inter will go 10 points clear of Juve – who have won the past nine titles – if they beat Genoa on Sunday.