Roma and Juventus share the points in tense draw

Romelu Lukaku’s early opener was cancelled out by a Gleison Bremer header as Roma and Juventus played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.

With five of the other top eight sides in Serie A dropping points ahead of kick-off in Rome, victory here promised to be a major boost to the top-five finish that would guarantee UEFA Champions League qualification for next season.

Things looked good for Roma after a strong start in which Rasmus Kristensen headed off the bar before Lukaku’s tap-in opened the scoring after 15 minutes.

But Juventus responded strongly, Bremer heading in the equaliser just after the half-hour mark before Federico Chiesa cannoned an effort off the woodwork early in the second half.

Opportunities came and went at either end in an open second half, with goalkeepers Mile Svilar and Wojciech Szczesny both called on to make decisive interventions as composure in the final third eluded both sides.

It was a fourth Serie A draw in a row for Juventus, who sit third in the standings on 66 points, six ahead of Roma in fifth, while for the hosts it marked a third home game in a row without a victory.

This was a massive opportunity for one of these sides to lay down a marker in the ferociously competitive battle for Champions League qualification after so many of their rivals fumbled points.

A point won’t fully satisfy either side, as it extends Juve’s winless run to five games and Roma’s streak without a home victory to three matches, while keeping the top-five race alive.

Juventus still need to finish the job in their final three games against Salernitana, Bologna and Monza to be assured of a top-five finish, but Roma face a nervy finish to the season. The Giallorossi currently occupy the fifth and final spot, but Atalanta sit three points behind with two games in hand – and host Daniele De Rossi’s side in Bergamo next Sunday.

The Brazilian was a dominant figure in every sense, marshalling Juve’s defensive effort from the middle of the back three and stepping forward to head in the equaliser in the first half.

Roma: Svilar 8; Kristensen 7, Llorente 6, Ndicka 6, Angelino 6; Cristante 7, Paredes 7, Pellegrini 7; Baldanzi 6, Lukaku 7, Dybala 6

Subs: Zalewski 6, Abraham 5, Azmoun 6, Bove 6

Juventus: Szczesny 7; Gatti 7, Bremer 8, Danilo 7; Weah 5, McKennie 7, Locatelli 7, Rabiot 7, Cambiaso 7; Vlahovic 6, Chiesa 7

Subs: Kostic 6, Milik 6, Kean 6, Alcaraz 6

11’ KRISTENSEN HITS THE BAR!

Huge chance for Roma! And it comes from their two full-backs. Angelino has lots of time and space on the left wing to send in a cross to Kristensen, who is unmarked and plants a header on the top of the bar. Good effort from the right-back, he was unlucky with that.

15’ GOAL! ROMA 1-0 JUVENTUS (LUKAKU)

The Olimpico erupts! Dybala finds some space in the box and works a pass to Cristante, whose shot is parried into the path of Lukaku for a tap-in. Advantage Roma early on!

31’ GOAL! ROMA 1-1 JUVENTUS (BREMER)

Roma clear their lines from a corner, but it’s worked back out to Chiesa on the right wing and this time his cross is met with a towering header from Bremer! Juventus are level and it’s game on in Rome!

47’ CHIESA HITS THE POST!

Chiesa so close to a brilliant goal right at the start of the second half! The winger cuts past his defender and smashes a first-time shot off his left foot, which smashes the post and comes back out. So unlucky!