Oh, So Close

Yet again, Juventus threw away a comfortable lead yesterday as Vicenza fought back from two goals down to tie the game in the span of six minutes. Although they remain top of Serie B, even on points with Napoli, you can just imagine how the Turin giants are feeling right now. Juve have shown an disconcerting tendency to run out of steam in the final 15-20 minutes this season and it was no different at the Stadio Menti.

Didier Deschamps was less than pleased:

The blame lies with us. We lost our concentration and their first goal really rattled us, it's like we thought they’d already drawn level. After going two goals up, you can't just throw away two points like that. We're not 100 per cent at the back, but that cannot be used as an excuse. We were 2-0 up and were caught. There was an incredibly passive approach from my men on the two goals and you cannot afford that, not even in Serie B. I don't like the attitude that I keep seeing from everyone when we take the lead. We think we have the game in hand and change our style, sitting back and allowing our opponents to come forward. We really need to start winning away from home if we're going to open up a gap at the top of the table.

As noted above, the result leaves the Bianconeri level at the top of the table with Napoli on 40 points. Mantova, Bologna, and Genoa are all joint-second, three points back. Deschamps' side host southern team Crotone next week at the Olimpico. [International Herald Tribune, Channel 4, Juventus official site]

In other Juve news:

• Do you think that Mrs. Moggi and Mrs. Lippi will carpool to prison on family-visit day? [BBC]
• Gabriel Heinze is happy where he is, thank you very much. [Irish Examiner]
• Fashion always has a place in Italian soccer. [Juventus official site]

-ac