Juventus come from behind to beat Benevento as Scudetto rivals drop points

05 November 2017 22:27

Second-half goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Juan Cuadrado spared Juventus’ blushes as they came from behind to inflict a 12th straight Serie A defeat on struggling Benevento.

After Juve’s Douglas Costa had twice hit the woodwork, basement boys Benevento stunned the Allianz Stadium crowd when Amato Ciciretti’s 19th-minute free-kick landed in the back of Wojciech Szczesny’s net.

But Higuain volleyed in his fifth goal in four games in all competitions to level things up 12 minutes into the second period, before Cuadrado nodded in eight minutes later to secure the points.

The result lifts Juve above Inter Milan into second, just one point behind leaders Napoli after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Chievo.

Veteran Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino frustrated the Serie A pacesetters as he made important saves to deny Lorenzo Insigne and Marek Hamsik as Napoli poured forward in search of a winner.

Inter Milan also dropped points as they drew 1-1 with Torino in Sunday’s early kick-off.

Beginning the day two points behind leaders Napoli, Inter had the chance to go top of the table – for a few hours at least – but it was not to be as they failed to win at San Siro for the first time this season.

The hosts fell behind in the 59th minute when Iago Falque rifled the ball into the bottom corner of Samir Handanovic’s net.

But Eder levelled things up with 11 minutes remaining to earn Inter a share of the spoils on a frustrating afternoon.

Gerson scored twice as Roma beat Fiorentina 4-2 in a thrilling encounter.

The Brazilian put the visitors ahead after five minutes and, after Jordan Veretout had scored a ninth-minute equaliser, Gerson netted Roma’s second on the half-hour mark.

Giovanni Simeone had Fiorentina back on level terms before the break but the hosts had no response to second-half strikes from Kostas Manolas and Diego Perotti as Roma took the points.

In Sunday’s late kick-off, goals either side of half-time from Alessio Romagnoli and Suso gave AC Milan a 2-0 victory at Sassuolo.

Defender Romagnoli nodded in Hakan Calhanoglu’s deflected right-wing cross before Spanish winger Suso cut in from the right to fire into the far corner.

Cagliari secured their second home win on the bounce as goals from Luca Ceppitelli and Paolo Farago helped them to a 2-1 victory over struggling Hellas Verona.

The visitors had opened the scoring through Bruno Zuculini in the sixth minute but a goal in either half saw Cagliari take all three points.

Elsewhere, Luca Rizzo scored a superb equaliser as newly-promoted SPAL hit back to claim a 1-1 draw at 10-man Atalanta.

Midfielder Rizzo cut in from the left to curl into the top-right corner and cancel out Bryan Cristante’s first-half opener, before the hosts had Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler sent off for a dangerous tackle on Federico Viviani in the 69th minute.

Meanwhile, Lazio’s clash with Udinese was postponed due to heavy rain at the Stadio Olimpico.

Source: By PA Sport Staff