Juventus's title hopes suffer blow in 1-1 draw with struggling Lecce

TURIN, Italy, Jan 3 : ‌Juventus's Serie A title hopes were dealt a hammer blow when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by relegation battling Lecce on Saturday, with the hosts coming from behind but failing to win after Jonathan David had a penalty saved.

Juventus remain fifth in the standings on 33 points, five off leaders AC Milan who have played a game less. Lecce are 16th on 17 points, five points above the relegation zone.

The home side put in a dominant display but wasted a host of opportunities and, after ending 2025 with three successive league wins, the ‌New Year began in disappointing fashion for Luciano Spalletti's men.

"We created spaces, we put ‌in crosses, balls played through into the box," Spalletti told DAZN.

"But we never found the player able to finish it off inside the area."

Juve's first chance came from a corner when David's glancing header was saved by the foot of keeper Wladimiro Falcone who watched the ball bounce off the post and roll back along the line safely into his hands.

Falcone made another save to tip Andrea Cambiaso's low shot around for a corner and Manuel Locatelli's first-time effort from the edge of the area went narrowly wide.

Kenan ‍Yildiz played a pass to the unmarked Cambiaso who blasted over from close range as Lecce continued to hang on.

The opening half was in added time when Lecce stunned the hosts. A wayward pass from Cambiaso was pounced on by Lameck Banda who danced his way past two opponents before rifling a shot into the corner.

Juventus equalised four minutes after the break, with Yildiz's shot taking a deflection and ​the ball fell to Weston McKennie who fired ‌past Falcone.

DAVID PENALTY MISS

Lecce faced wave after wave of Juventus attacks and the visitors conceded a penalty