MILAN: Paulo Dybala struck a late penalty to save Juventus’ blushes in a 1-1 draw with early leaders Chievo Verona, although they remain six points behind title rivals AS Roma ahead of their Champions League opener against Manchester City.

Juve, last season’s beaten Champions League finalists, meet City in Group ‘D’ on Tuesday and on this showing Manuel Pellegrini’s men will fancy their chances of taking three points off the Italian champions.

Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado, on loan from Chelsea, was brought down by Bostjan Cesar in the 83rd minute and Dybala equalised from the spot.

Chievo had led from the fifth minute after the ball fell kindly on the edge of the box for Perparim Hetemaj to fire home via a deflection.

Juve are fifth from bottom with one point from three games while Chievo are flying high on seven points ahead of Roma on goal difference.

Earlier, Roma prepared for Wednesday’s Group ‘E’ clash against defending European champions Barcelona with a hard-fought 2-0 win away bottom club Frosinone thanks to a 44th-minute goal from Iago Falque and a stoppage-time strike by Juan Iturbe.

Fiorentina, who had Milan Badelj sent off in the second half, overcame Genoa 1-0 after Khouma Babacar scored the only goal on the hour.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2015

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