Serie A results : Juventus lose to Parma, Lazio and Fiorentina win, Torino beat Udinese

The Serie A matchday 33 delivered several unexpected twists as Juventus suffered a shock defeat to Parma, while Lazio and Fiorentina secured crucial wins in their pursuit of European qualification. Torino also impressed with a commanding victory over Udinese in a weekend that significantly impacted the race for Champions League spots.

In Short

Juventus stunned by Parma as Champions League hopes falter

In a surprising turn of events, Juventus fell to a 1-0 defeat against relegation-threatened Parma at the Ennio Tardini Stadium. The match, originally scheduled for Easter Monday but postponed following Pope Francis’ passing, saw Juventus drop out of the Champions League positions.

Mateo Pellegrino emerged as the hero for Parma, scoring the decisive goal with a powerful header just before halftime. His clinical finish from Valeri’s cross proved enough to secure three vital points for the hosts, who moved to 15th place with 31 points – now six points clear of the relegation zone.

The defeat has serious implications for Juventus, who remain stuck on 59 points and now find themselves level with Lazio. The Bianconeri’s poor form continues to raise concerns about their Champions League qualification prospects with just five matches remaining in the season.

Before the match began, both teams observed a minute of silence to honor Pope Francis, with images of the late pontiff displayed on the stadium’s screens. This solemn moment was replicated across all Serie A venues during the postponed fixtures, highlighting the respect for the spiritual leader who had strong connections to football.

Juventus struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the encounter, allowing Parma to capitalize on their defensive organization. For the relegation-battling side, this victory represents a significant boost in their fight for survival, while potentially dealing a fatal blow to Juventus’ top-four ambitions.

Lazio and Fiorentina strengthen European credentials with away wins

Lazio continued their impressive form under coach Tudor with a commanding 2-0 victory against Genoa at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium. The win propelled them to 59 points, drawing them level with Juventus in the race for Champions League qualification.

Castellanos opened the scoring with a spectacular acrobatic finish in the first half, converting a cross from Pellegrini after excellent work from Zaccagni. Dia later secured the three points with a clinical finish. Genoa’s task was made significantly harder when Otoa received a straight red card after just 22 minutes for bringing down Zaccagni who was clean through on goal.

The match was briefly interrupted after 16 minutes when Genoa fans threw flares onto the pitch, with one hitting Lazio goalkeeper Mandas on the back. The protest stemmed from dissatisfaction with the rescheduled kickoff time. Despite playing against ten men for most of the match, Lazio demonstrated their quality and European credentials.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina secured a valuable 2-1 comeback victory against Cagliari at the Sardegna Arena. Roberto Piccoli gave the hosts an early lead in the 7th minute, controlling a loose ball after De Gea’s attempted save from Luvumbo’s cross and slotting home with his left foot.

Fiorentina equalized in the 36th minute through Robin Gosens, who finished expertly with the outside of his foot from Mandragora’s cross. Lucas Beltrán completed the comeback just after halftime, rising highest to head home Dodô’s cross from the right in the 48th minute.

This victory moved Palladino’s Fiorentina to within a single point of Roma and the Conference League positions, further intensifying the battle for European places. Both Lazio and Fiorentina demonstrated the tactical flexibility and resilience needed to secure vital away victories at this crucial stage of the season.

Torino dominate Udinese as Serie A honors Pope Francis

Torino produced a commanding performance to defeat Udinese 2-0 at the Stadio Grande Torino. The match, initially balanced in the opening stages with Udinese creating the first opportunity through Atta’s cross and Ekkelenkamp’s deflection, gradually tilted in the home side’s favor.

Che Adams broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from Lovric. After Ricci’s initial shot was saved by Okoye, and Linetty’s follow-up was also blocked, Adams pounced from close range to give Torino the lead. The hosts doubled their advantage in the 85th minute when French forward Dembélé took advantage of Solet’s poor clearance to score from close range.

This victory strengthens Torino’s position in the middle of the table as they aim to finish the season on a positive note. For Udinese, the defeat represents another setback in their inconsistent campaign, though they remain relatively comfortable in terms of relegation concerns.

All four matches featured a minute’s silence to honor Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88. The Serie A fixtures were postponed from their original Easter Monday date out of respect for the pontiff, whose love for football was well-documented throughout his life.

The football world, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, paid tribute to the Pope’s legacy and his promotion of sport as a unifying force. Pope Francis, a lifelong San Lorenzo supporter, had often spoken about football’s capacity to bring people together and promote positive values in society.

As Serie A returns to its regular schedule, these results have significantly impacted the European qualification picture. Juventus faces mounting pressure to reclaim a Champions League spot, while Lazio and Fiorentina continue their strong pushes toward European football next season. With just five matchdays remaining, the competition for those coveted European places promises to deliver an exciting conclusion to the Italian league season.