Football
Associated Press and PA Sport 9y

Juventus' title on hold after Torino loss marred by fan violence

Juventus were prevented from clinching a fourth consecutive Serie A title with a 2-1 loss at Torino on Sunday in a derby marred by fan violence.

After Andrea Pirlo put Juventus ahead with a free kick 35 minutes in, fellow Italy international Matteo Darmian equalised just before half-time and former Juve forward Fabio Quagliarella scored the winner just before the hour mark.

Before the match, Torino fans assaulted the bus carrying Juve's players as it approached the stadium, breaking a window. Juventus supporters retaliated by throwing fireworks at Torino counterparts inside the stadium, injuring several.

Juventus -- 14 points ahead of second-placed Lazio with six matches remaining -- needed a win and for the Biancocelesti to lose.

Lazio were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Chievo Verona.

Chievo striker Alberto Paloschi equalised 15 minutes from time to deny Lazio in their push for Champions League football next season.

Miroslav Klose gave the hosts the lead on the stroke of half-time and they had chances to double their advantage after the restart but Chievo goalkeeper Albano Bizarri kept them at bay with some good saves.

The visitors got back on level terms when Paloschi's right-footed volley left Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti rooted to the spot and the game finished in a draw.

Gonzalo Higuain scored twice as Napoli strengthened their claim for a Champions League place with a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Sampdoria.

Raul Albiol's early own goal gave Samp a shock lead but fourth-placed Napoli wrested back control before half-time thanks to strikes from Manolo Gabbiadini and Higuain.

A superb third from Lorenzo Insigne put the Azzurri firmly in control and there was still time for Higuain to add another from the spot to bring Napoli to within two points of Roma.

Antonio Nocerino scored a first-half penalty to hand bottom-side Parma a 1-0 home triumph over Palermo and keep their faint hopes of remaining in Serie A alive.

The Italian midfielder converted the spot kick in the 22nd minute after Palermo's Massimo Gobbi brought down Andrea Rispoli in the area.

Genoa resumed their late push for a place in the Europa League places by beating 10-man Cesena 3-1 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Defeat at Palermo knocked the Rossoblu off their stride but goals from Andrea Bertolacci, Diego Perotti and Leonardo Pavoletti put them back in the race for a top-six finish.

Cesena, who responded through Carlos Carbonero late on, lost Ze Eduardo to a red card at the death and now sit eight points behind 17th-placed Atalanta and safety with six games remaining.

Luca Toni scored twice as 10-man Hellas Verona beat Sassuolo 3-2.

Hellas lost goalkeeper Rafael to a red card in the 17th minute for handling the ball outside the area, but took a 30th-minute lead through Juanito Gomez.

The visitors equalised five minutes later when Vangelis Moras struck the ball into his own net in an attempt to stop Sassuolo's Simone Zaza from tapping in a Simone Missiroli cross.

Toni put the hosts ahead in the 63rd minute and the veteran Italian forward extended his team's lead eight minutes later with his 17th goal of the campaign.

Substitute Antonio Floro Flores gave Sassuolo an 89th-minute lifeline, but Hellas held on for their 10th win of the campaign.

German Denis' last-gasp goal earned Atalanta a valuable point in a 2-2 draw against Empoli in Bergamo.

With both teams looking to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone, the visitors looked to be heading for an important win after Massimo Maccarone struck on the hour for a 2-1 lead.

However, Denis headed in substitute Urby Emanuelson's cross to earn the hosts a draw.

Duje Cop ensured Gianluca Festa's debut on the Cagliari bench went swimmingly with a brace to down Fiorentina 3-1 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The former Inter Milan and Middlesbrough man has been charged with leading the Sardinians' survival bid and before kick-off they were 10 points shy of safety.

Seventeenth-placed Atalanta are now seven points away thanks to goals in each half from Cop and a last-gasp screamer from Diego Farias, while veteran striker Alberto Gilardino managed a late response for the hosts.

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