Pedro and Isaksen put Lazio in control, but McKennie and a stoppage-time strike from Kalulu salvage a draw that feels like defeat for Juventus on Matchday 24.
Juventus saw their last, faint Scudetto hopes evaporate after a dramatic 2–2 draw against Lazio at the Allianz Stadium. Despite a furious late comeback, the point does little for the Bianconeri, who now head into the Derby d’Italia knowing the title race is effectively over.
For Lazio and Maurizio Sarri, returning to Turin as an opponent, the match was full of mixed emotions. The Biancocelesti were minutes away from a crucial away win that would have boosted their push for fifth place, only to be denied by a last-gasp equalizer.
The first half was tense and finely balanced, with Juventus controlling possession but struggling to convert pressure into clear chances. Controversy arrived when a goal by Koopmeiners was disallowed for an offside position by Thuram in the buildup, a decision that sparked protests from the home side.
Just as the teams seemed destined for halftime at 0–0, Lazio struck. In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, a costly error by Locatelli allowed the visitors to break forward. Maldini carried the ball and slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Pedro, who finished clinically to give Lazio a 1–0 lead.
The Biancocelesti doubled their advantage immediately after the restart. Two minutes into the second half, Isaksen cut inside and fired a diagonal shot under the crossbar, beating Di Gregorio and stunning the home crowd.
Juventus, however, refused to collapse. Spalletti’s side pushed higher and increased the tempo, finally finding a way back into the match in the 59th minute. Cambiaso, quiet until then, delivered a precise cross into the box that McKennie attacked decisively, heading home to make it 2–1 and reignite the contest.
The final half hour was played almost entirely in Lazio’s half, with Juventus throwing everything forward. Provedel was forced into several interventions, and the pressure mounted relentlessly. Deep into stoppage time, the breakthrough finally arrived: newly introduced Boga produced the assist, and Kalulu was in the right place at the right time to turn the ball into the net for a dramatic 2–2 equalizer in the 97th minute.
The comeback rescued a point, but the feeling around the stadium was one of disappointment rather than celebration. Juventus remain well off the pace in the title race, while Lazio leave Turin with a draw that still keeps their European ambitions alive.
Match Report: Juventus 2–2 Lazio
Scorers:
45+2’ Pedro (Lazio), 47’ Isaksen (Lazio), 59’ McKennie (Juventus), 90+7’ Kalulu (Juventus)
Juventus (4-2-3-1):
Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Koopmeiners (Kelly 77’), Cabal (Zhegrova 46’); Locatelli (Openda 85’), Thuram; Cambiaso (Boga 76’), McKennie (Miretti 84’), Yildiz; David.
Head coach: Luciano Spalletti.
Lazio (4-3-3):
Provedel; Marusic, Gila (Romagnoli 78’), Provstgaard (Patric 83’), Nuno Tavares; Taylor, Cataldi, Basic (Dele-Bashiru 46’); Isaksen (Cancellieri 65’), Maldini, Pedro (Noslin 65’).
Head coach: Maurizio Sarri.
Referee: Guida
Yellow cards: Taylor, Romagnoli (Lazio)
