Unpaid, bankrupt Parma stun high-flying Juve

Parma's midfielder Jose Mauri (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match between Parma and Juventus on April 11, 2015 at theTardini Stadium in Parma . PHOTO | GIUSEPPE CACACE |

What you need to know:

  • Jose Mauri struck on the hour mark
  • This is Juventus second defeat of the Serie A season
  • Cagliari's relegation woes deepened with a 2-0 defeat at Genoa

MILAN

Jose Mauri struck on the hour mark as crisis-hit Parma stunned Juventus 1-0 to hand the champions only their second defeat of the Serie A season, while Cagliari's relegation woes deepened with a 2-0 defeat at Genoa.

Days before hosting Monaco in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri rested a number of regulars for the trip to a packed out Enrico Tardini stadium.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, striker Carlos Tevez and defender Andrea Barzagli were all left on the bench ahead of Tuesday's last eight clash in Turin, although it was a decision Allegri could go on to regret.

As well as not being paid all season, being put into administration last month after being declared bankrupt, Parma had also only taken two points from their last seven league outings against the Turin giants.

But Roberto Donadoni's men were impervious to their recent setbacks, and historical statistics, as they set about defying the defending champions in a bid to show their relegation fight is far from over.

Juventus spurned several half chances in a balanced opening half, with Claudio Marchisio's effort blocked yards from goal in the opening exchanges.

However Parma held their own throughout. When Ishak Belfodil ran on to a long ball from midfield, the Algerian worked his way around Giorgio Chiellini to curl a left-footed effort that went just wide of Marco Storari's upright.

At the other end Antonio Mirante reacted quickly to keep out Arturo Vidal's header at the back post with his foot after the Chilean got on the end of Marchisio's free kick.

Allegri had partnered Fernando Llorente with Kingsley Coman up front and the Frenchman was denied by Mirante from a tight angle after being sent through on the left.

Coman came close again shortly after the restart when he fired a rocket just over Mirante's bar, but Juve were soon trailing when Belfodil cut back from the byeline for Mauri to fire past a flailing Mauri and into the top of the net.

Allegri made a number of changes but the hosts even threatened a second, with Varela's effort charged down late on.

Juve's only other defeat was away to Genoa at the start of the season. Although their second reverse is unlikely to stop their charge towards a fourth consecutive scudetto, it could give faint hope to Roma, who sit second at 14 points before their trip to Torino on Sunday.

At Genoa, M'Baye Niang continued his revival following his January loan move from AC Milan by breaking the deadlock minutes at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, with Iago Falque sealing the points with Genoa's second goal minutes later.

Niang had headed just over post and bar early on, while Paul-Jose M'Poku came close to a stunning opener for the visitors when he curled a drive over 'keeper Eugenio Lamanna only to see his effort come off the bar.

Niang broke the deadlock minutes after the restart, doing well to lose his marker in the box before tapping Sebastian Roncaglio's delivery past Lamanna to claim his fourth goal for his new side.