ROME: Marco Borriello grabbed a second-half equaliser to earn struggling Genoa a 1-1 draw away to Italian champions and league leaders Juventus.
Former Juve forward Borriello struck in the 68th minute to leave Antonio Conte’s side on 49 points at the top, six clear of Napoli and Lazio who earlier suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat by Chievo Verona.
Genoa, playing for the first time under new manager Davide Ballardini, moved up to 18 points but remained third bottom as Chievo climbed to 11th place on 28 points.
The Juve match was marred by controversy over two penalties not awarded to the champions in the second half and Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic went unpunished for what appeared to be a clear handball in the area.
Luca Antonelli looked to have pulled Vucinic’s shirt as the forward stretched for Emanuele Giaccherini’s 80th-minute cross, while Andreas Granqvist sparked furious protests from Juventus when he kicked the ball on to his hand in stoppage time but referee Marco Guida failed to award a spot-kick.
Juve coach Antonio Conte said: “I don’t think there’s much to explain, I think everyone saw the match. We saw various incidents and it’s not the first time. I accept being told that ‘we made a mistake and we’re sorry’ but I can’t accept being told ‘I don’t feel like I could give it’.
“If the assistant and the fourth official both say it was a penalty then the referee can’t say ‘I wasn’t able to give it’. That isn’t football. We’ll all human beings and we can all make mistakes, but you have to take responsibility for what you do.”
In France goalkeeper Steve Mandanda’s blunder proved costly for Marseille as they conceded a last-gasp goal to draw 2-2 at Rennes. They had appeared poised for a deserved win after Jordan Ayew gave them a 2-1 lead in the 82nd minute, but Rennes equalised when Mandanda mishandled a routine cross from Abdoulaye Sane.
The ball bounced on to the near post and into the path of Romain Alessandrini who pushed it home two minutes from time. The result left Elie Baup’s side in third place with 42 points from 22 matches, three behind leaders Olympique Lyon.
In Holland PSV Eindhoven thrashed Heracles Almelo 5-1 with a second-half double from Georginio Wijnaldum to return to the top of the table. PSV have 43 points from 20 matches, two more then Twente Enschede who take on fourth-placed Feyenoord (37) on Sunday. Ajax Amsterdam, third with 40, travel to Vitesse Arnhem.
In Portugal Benfica claimed a 2-1 win away to third-placed Braga to go top of the league by extending their lead to three points over Porto and 13 over third-placed Braga. Benfica owed victory to goals from Argentinian Eduardo Salvio and Brazilian striker Lima.
In Spain Valencia ended a miserable week on a high when they came from behind to snatch a 3-2 win at struggling 10-man Deportivo La Coruna.
Ernesto Valverde’s side suffered a humiliating 5-0 thrashing at home to Real Madrid last weekend and were knocked out of the Cup by the same opponents in Wednesday’s quarter-final second leg.
Saturday’s much-needed but rather unconvincing victory against the league’s bottom club kept them fifth, on goal difference above neighbours Levante who won 2-1 at home to Valladolid.