Giampaolo Pazzini scored a late penalty to hand 1984-85 Serie A champion, Hellas Verona a shock victory over Juventus at Marc’Antonio Bentegodi stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored goal in his 10th successive league game – one short of a Serie A record – to open the scoring for the league leaders before Fabio Borini equalised for Hellas Verona. But Pazzini converted an 86th-minute penalty kick after the VAR conferred on penalty decision, as Marash Kumbulla’s header hit Leonardo Bonucci’s arm.
The hosts, who earned promotion to the Italian Serie A via the play-offs last season, impressed in the first half and could have easily gone ahead when Davide Faraoni’s powerful drive was tipped over by Wojciech Szczesny.
Marash Kumbulla thought he had provided his side a lead on 23 minutes when his header from Miguel Veloso’s free-kick hit back of the net, but VAR ruled out that goal.
Defending champions were unlucky as Ronaldo struck the post after driving infield while Douglas Costa shot from 18 yard hit top of the post. The later also drew a super save from Verona keeper Marco Silvestri.
And it was away side who broke the deadlock as Ronaldo latched on to Rodrigo Bentancur’s through ball, shrugged off the attentions of Amir Rrahmani, and fired home to become the first Juve player to score in 10 consecutive Serie A games.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who turned 35 on 5th of February, has now scored 20 goals from as many Serie – league games this season, with 15 of those strikes coming in his last 10 outings.
The best goalscoring runs in a single Serie A season have stopped at 11 games – Fabio Quagliarella last season and Gabriel Batistuta in 1994-95.
However, it was not to be for Ronaldo and co, as ex-Liverpool and Sunderland striker Borini capitalised on a defensive error by Miralem Pjanic to break into the area and slot home the equaliser.
And with time running out it was another 35-year-old, Pazzini, who had the final say as he rifled past Szczesny from the spot to seal a famous win for his side and put Juve’s hopes of defending their title in jeopardy.
Victory sees Verona rise to sixth. With the result, Antonio Conte’s Inter get another chance to take lead in Serie A table over defending champion Juventus if they could win Milan derby today.
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