IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Napoli have Roma firmly in their sights as they prepare to face Palermo on Saturday.
Spanish forward Jose Callejon believes Napoli can leapfrog Roma into second place in Serie A before the end of the season.
In-form Napoli are just four points adrift of Roma heading into Saturday's trip to Palermo at Stadio Renzo Barbera, having won four successive league matches.
Napoli - inspired by Gonzalo Higuain's three goals in that period - have accounted for Lazio, Genoa, Chievo and Udinese to close the gap on Roma after 22 rounds.
And Callejon sees no reason why Napoli cannot secure a top-two berth ahead of the Romans.
"We believe in second place, and we're not giving up," Callejon told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli. "We will try to do our best in every competition, there are still many games and we hope to do well with every race.
"We have won four games in a row in the league and we're going to Palermo trying to stretch the strip. It will not be easy but we're fine and we can express ourselves to the maximum.
"We have to play as we are doing in the last few months and still improve in front of goal trying to realise all the opportunities we create."
Roma are back on home soil for their hosting of cellar-dwelling Parma on Sunday.
They were 2-1 winners at Cagliari last week, a result that ended a run of four consecutive draws.
On-field matters appear to be the least of Parma's worries, with the club facing possible bankruptcy due to outstanding debts.
Serie A pacesetters Juventus are also in action on Sunday.
The runaway league leaders will make the trip to second-bottom Cesena in the midst of a 13-match unbeaten streak in Serie A.
Juve have kept seven clean sheets in that period, while Argentina international Carlos Tevez has scored eight goals.
European hopefuls Fiorentina and Sampdoria - fourth and fifth respectively but level on 35 points - are both on the road this weekend.
Fiorentina and Sampdoria occupy the two UEFA Europa League spots heading into their trips to Sassuolo (Saturday) and Chievo (Sunday).
Lazio will be monitoring those matches closely, with the Rome-based outfit a point adrift as they prepare to play Udinese away from home.
After ending a run of consecutive defeats against Palermo last week, Inter will be hoping for consistency when they visit lowly Atalanta.
City rivals Milan, who welcome Empoli to San Siro, are also in need of a consistent run of results after losing to Juve last time out - their third defeat in four matches.
Elsewhere, Torino go head-to-head with third-bottom Cagliari, while high-flying Genoa tackle Hellas Verona.
Filippo Inzaghi is under pressure to turn things around at Milan, with Empoli up next at San Siro in Serie A.
Milan continue to toil in Serie A and Filippo Inzaghi will hope his players can ease the pressure on his shoulders when Empoli visit San Siro in Serie A on Sunday.
Forward Stephan El Shaarawy spoke out in defence of his coach this week, insisting the whole team had faith in Inzaghi.
But results will ultimately speak louder than any impassioned calls for patience, and wins have been all too thin on the ground for Milan.
Mattia De Sciglio knows Milan have failed to meet expectations, but he is not panicking, particularly as new arrivals came in January in the shape of Mattia Destro, Suso, Salvatore Bocchetti, Alessio Cerci, Luca Antonelli and Gabriel Paletta.
"We are disappointed with the way the season is going. Obviously everyone expected something better," De Sciglio was quoted as saying on the official Milan website.
"However, we want to change things around and we believe we can do it if we work hard. We want to climb up the table as high as possible.
"The new signings have settled in straightaway. They are experienced players and they have all played at the highest level in Serie A for a long time so they will be a big help to us.
"We can say that the team is relaxed despite the fact that results have not been going our way."
A 3-1 victory over Parma at the start of the month ended a five-game winless league run, but Milan were quickly brought back down to earth at Juventus last Saturday.
There were some positives to take from a spirited display at the home of the champions, with Inzaghi lauding his side's "attitude and desire".
He proclaimed that a winning run was imminent and there would be no better place to start than against Empoli.
Maurizio Sarri's men have endured a difficult time of late, too, with Sunday's 2-0 triumph over Cesena bringing to an end a nine-match spell without a win in Serie A.
Empoli drew seven games in that run, keeping them four points clear of the relegation zone.
September's reverse fixture also ended in a draw after Milan hit back from two goals down to level matters at two apiece.
Empoli won 1-0 on their last trip to Milan in 2007, when Inzaghi was on the playing staff at San Siro.
Atalanta v Inter: Ausilio backs Mancini´s long-term plan
13 February 2015
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio is confident Roberto Mancini will bring success to Inter, who travel to Atalanta in Serie A on Sunday.
It has been a season of struggle for Inter, who face Atalanta in Serie A this weekend, but sporting director Piero Ausilio believes coach Roberto Mancini is laying the groundwork for success in the future.
Languishing in mid-table and knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Napoli last Wednesday, Inter's best shot at redemption is winning the UEFA Europa League, with a last-32 tie against Celtic to come this month.
That said a top-five finish in the league is not yet beyond their reach, with Mancini's side facing a six-point gap to Sampdoria in fifth.
And Ausilio insists some short-term pain could result in long-term gain for the San Siro outfit.
"Mancini didn't want to take the easy option – he wanted to lay the foundations for future success," he told SportItalia.
"You can't expect the team to respond perfectly to new instructions. That's what your summer training camps are for.
"But Mancini has had to do it with matches coming around thick and fast. The positives are the way the team's playing, the development of the squad and our recent results."
Mancini turned to Germany striker Lukas Podolski, a loan signing from Arsenal, in January, but he has failed to score in six matches.
Ausilio remains confident that he will prove his worth, though.
He added: "Podolski? He's training very well. Lukas has played in three World Cups and won one. He'll show us what he can do."
Inter ended a three-match winless run in the league with a 3-0 victory over Palermo last Sunday, but they have not secured back-to-back triumphs since October.
They were victorious in September's home meeting with Atalanta, when Pablo Daniel Osvaldo - who on Thursday agreed a move from Southampton to Boca Juniors - and Hernanes were on target.
That result was part of a four-game losing streak for Stefano Colantuono's side, who won their last home game against fellow strugglers Cagliari to stay out of the relegation zone.
There is little comfort in the league standings, though, with Atalanta only four points above the bottom three.
Colantuono has at least begun to see a marked upturn in fortunes at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, where Atalanta are unbeaten in five matches in all competitions.
Cesena v Juventus: Ogbonna calls for focus ahead of tricky trip
13 February 2015
Leaders Juventus travel to struggling Cesena this weekend looking to maintain their unbeaten run in Serie A.
Angelo Ogbonna says Juventus will not let their focus slip this weekend as they travel to Cesena looking to extend their 13-game unbeaten run in Serie A.
Massimiliano Allegri's side head to the Stadio Dino Manuzzi seven points clear of Roma at the top of the table as they chase a fourth straight title.
Juve are heavy favourites to rack up a 17th league win of the season, too, as 19th-placed Cesena have tasted victory in just three of their 22 top-flight fixtures this term.
Allegri will be without Serie A's top scorer Carlos Tevez this weekend as the Argentinian serves a suspension, but defender Ogbonna - who could return after an ankle problem - believes Juve have the strength in depth to cope without their leading marksman.
"I do not think that the absence of Tevez will create problems," Ogbonna told Sky Sport Italia.
"This year there have been many absences and there were many alternatives that can take the place of the alleged owners.
"We have to be focused. The fact that Roma can win in the afternoon is not a pressure. Our goal is to make three points in Cesena."
Cesena were boosted by the signing of free agent Gaby Mudingayi on Thursday, and have won two of their last three in Serie A - including a surprise 2-1 victory over Lazio on February 1.
However, coach Domenico Di Carlo was unhappy with his team's attitude in their 2-0 defeat at Empoli last time out, and is under no illusion as to the size of their task on Sunday.
"Our next game with Juventus is difficult," he said. "But Cesena have to go for every point in order to secure safety."
Juve beat Cesena 3-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season, with Arturo Vidal scoring twice at Juventus Stadium in September.
Serie A Review: Napoli beaten after Rafael howler, Salah strikes in Fiorentina win
14 February 2015
Goalkeeper Rafael Cabral made a dreadful error as Napoli were beaten 3-1 at Palermo in Serie A, while Fiorentina beat Sassuolo.
Rafael Cabral had a moment to forget as the Napoli goalkeeper's howler put Palermo on course for a 3-1 Serie A victory at the Stadio Barbera.
The Brazilian was left red-faced after totally misjudging a speculative long-range strike from Achraf Lazaar 14 minutes in to gift the home side the lead.
It was Lazaar's first goal for the club and things went from bad to worse for previously in-form Napoli when Franco Vazquez curled home before half-time after he was set up by Paulo Dybala.
Vazquez then headed down a Dybala cross and Luca Rigoni was on hand to score Palermo's third after 65 minutes to ensure Manolo Gabbiadini's third goal in his last four games late on was merely a consolation.
Defeat for Rafael Benitez's side ended their four-match winning run to ensure they remain four points behind second-placed Roma, while Palermo are up to seventh.
Mohamed Salah marked his first Fiorentina start with a goal and Khouma Babacar struck twice in a 3-1 win at Sassuolo.
Winger Salah joined the Florence club from Chelsea in the deal which took Juan Cuadrado to Stamford Bridge and the Egypt international has wasted no time in making an impact.
Babacar set up the former Basel man for the opening goal after half an hour and Salah returned the favour for the forward two minutes later.
Senegalese forward Babacar added a third goal after 62 minutes and, although Domenico Berardi pulled a goal back five minutes later, Sassuolo were unable to prevent only a second home league defeat of the season.
Victory moves Vincenzo Montella's charges four points behind third-placed Napoli, while Sassuolo sit in 12th.
After a 1-1 Serie A draw at home to Empoli, Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi said a mood change at San Siro will be vital to achieving success.
Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi says his side must turn the jeers into cheers at San Siro if they are to halt their recent slump.
Milan let a one-goal lead slip as they were held to a 1-1 Serie A draw by Empoli on Sunday, leaving them with just one win from their last six matches in all competitions.
Inzaghi - who confirmed a broken nose had led to defender Alex's early withdrawal during the match - credited Empoli for a spirited performance, but felt his side should have done better.
"We are in a complicated period," he said. "We lost a player [Alex] after a few minutes and this did not allow me to make the changes [I wanted to make].
"Empoli are a really good team - it was a balanced game."
Inzaghi, whose side left the field to the sound of jeers from home fans, will now come under increasing pressure, but the coach insists they are improving.
"We are growing," he added. "We are trying to find a new system and many players are returning.
"They are constantly having to change training, but surely we will improve.
"More than anything we need to work on the mental side.
"Now it is not easy to play at San Siro. We must try to turn those boos into cheers."
The Rossoneri slipped to 11th in the league table last weekend but their under-fire coach insists they can finish their season flawlessly
Filippo Inzaghi says AC Milan's fans have every right to be "fuming" over the club's current condition but is nonetheless pleading for patience from the Giuseppe Meazza faithful, and claims his side can will all 16 of the remaining Serie A fixtures.
The Rossoneri dropped to 11th in the table last weekend after losing 3-1 to Italian champions Juventus in Turin, thus turning up the heat on their already under-fire coach.
However, Inzaghi has been buoyed by Milan's transfer dealings during the January transfer window, which resulted in the arrivals of Mattia Destro, Alessio Cerci and Salvatore Bocchetti, and feels that the San Siro side are capable of finishing the season with a flourish, starting with Sunday's home game against Empoli.
"We have to be fuming with our position in the league table, but you only come out of tough moments with work and desire," the former Italy international told reporters on Saturday.
"The fans have been very patient, but they know me and they know about the desire I possess to do well and so I will give my all.
"At the end of the 90 minutes we will be ready for the jeers or the applause if we deserve it. The criticism doesn’t worry me because I am strong enough to fight against everyone and everything.
"It’s not right to look at the league table at the moment, we need to play with some of the conviction that we showed in the last match. At the end of the year we will then see where we finish.
"If we give performances worthy of Milan, then we can win every one of the next 16 matches.
"I believe that with the new signings we have improved and there is everything in place to do well."
Inzaghi hinted that Destro, who has joined on loan from Roma until the end of the season, is likely to lead the line against Empoli, but Atletico Madrid loanee Cerci is only fit enough for a place on the bench.
"Mattia has an excellent attitude, he trains very well, he’s a smashing lad but I don’t want to load him with responsibilities that put excessive pressure on him," the Rossoneri coach added.
"Cerci was on the way to peak condition, but he has been out for a couple of days because of a minor knee problem. I can only use him for 30 minutes because he hasn’t trained much."
Roberto Mancini spoke of the 'great form' shown by Fredy Guarin after he played a key role in Inter's 4-1 Serie A win at Atalanta.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini was full of praise for midfielder Fredy Guarin's "great form" after he scored twice in a 4-1 Serie A win at 10-man Atalanta on Sunday.
Guarin played a starring role and won the penalty that Xherdan Shaqiri converted in the second minute before Maximiliano Moralez's leveller after 27 minutes.
The visitors regained the lead through Guarin's low curling effort before half-time and Atalanta were reduced to 10 men after the break when Yohan Benalouane received two bookings in a minute.
Just after the hour mark, Guarin scored an even more spectacular goal and then set up Rodrigo Palacio, prompting Mancini's tribute.
He told the club's official website: "Fredy is a great player and it was strange to see him not performing to the best of his abilities earlier in the season.
"He's a very good midfielder and this will help him gain confidence and relax on the pitch.
"It's not vital for him to score, but of course it helps. We put our faith in him and he's repaying us with some great form."
The victory in Bergamo - Inter's first since Mancini's first stint in charge of the club - was a second successive league win and Mancini hopes the result becomes "a big step forward".
"We’re delighted because we've come to a tough ground and won," he said.
"I'm pleased with the performance, though there were still a few too many mistakes that made life difficult for us.
"We had some problems after going 0-1 up, but then after they equalised we took control of the game again.
"Of course, we're in a better position having won two games on the spin, but there's still work to do. We're not out of the woods yet, but we hope this is a big step forward for us."
Napoli coach Rafael Benitez claimed his team was "in control" of their Serie A clash with Palermo despite losing 3-1.
Napoli coach Rafael Benitez bemoaned his side's mistakes after they lost 3-1 away to Palermo on Saturday in a match where the Spaniard believed his team was "in control".
Palermo scored twice in the first half thanks to errors from Napoli with Achraf Lazaar and Franco Vazquez getting on the scoresheet for the home side.
Lazaar's strike from over 40 yards went straight through the hands of Napoli goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, while the visitors gave away possession for Vazquez's goal after two of Benitez's men allowed Robin Quaison to burst away down the left to set up the attack.
"We are punished by our mistakes," Benitez said after the game, according to Napoli's website.
"If we analyse the race you notice that we suffered a goal that no one expected.
"We had possession and control, we had the possibility of a draw, but after a mistake we conceded the second goal. They were our mistakes to influence the game and [I am] sorry after so many good things we have done in these two months."
Napoli could have moved within a point of second-placed Roma with a win at Palermo but instead watched their six-match winning streak in all competitions come to a halt at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.
Cabral's poor goalkeeping kick-started Palermo's victory, which was capped off by Luca Rigoni's 65th-minute goal, but Benitez refused to be too critical of his goalkeeper, who had played in four of the previous six wins.
"He's a guy who has done well and a mistake can happen to anyone. Then the error of the goalkeeper is increasingly evident," the former Liverpool and Inter manager said.
"I have confidence in him as well as I have faith in this team that came from a consecutive series of victories. Now we have to think about the road ahead and we resume our journey."
Ahead of Seydou Doumbia's likely Roma debut on Sunday, coach Rudi Garcia has backed his new arrival to hit the ground running.
Rudi Garcia feels new striker Seydou Doumbia can make a positive start to life with Roma after seeing his debut delayed by Africa Cup of Nations duty.
The Ivorian agreed a deal to move from CSKA Moscow last month and, having helped his country win the African showpiece, could debut against Parma on Sunday.
Garcia is confident Doumbia will prove a useful addition and thinks that the 27-year-old is ready to start.
"He had to go via Moscow and travel around a bit before coming here," Garcia explained on Saturday.
"We all know what sort of player he is - you only need take a look at his stats.
"He's a goalscorer, a striker who sticks them away for you. We expect a lot from him. Not that we're putting him under pressure; for now his only task is to settle into the team.
"He's ready to start and show what he can do."
Roma's bid to reel in leaders Juventus has stuttered of late - drawing four of their last five league outings to sit seven points off top spot.
Ahead of Sunday's visit from bottom side Parma, Garcia warned of taking Roberto Donadoni's men lightly.
"Three points is the only result open to us. Parma are a team that try to play football despite their position in the standings," he added.
"They went out of the Coppa Italia in the final minutes against the league leaders. For our part, all we can do is win the game and prove that there is a difference in quality between us.
"Our first aim is to win the next game, then we'll see after that. We have to focus on one game at a time, nothing else matters. All that matters is getting three points."
Inzaghi blames injuries and absent-mindedness for dropped Milan points
By Miles Chambers
Feb 15, 2015 16:47:47
The coach was frustrated with how his squad allowed Massimo Maccarone to equaliser in Sunday's draw but insists the Rossoneri are "growing"
Filippo Inzaghi has blamed injuries and absent-minded defending on AC Milan dropping points with a 1-1 draw at home to Empoli on Sunday.
The Rossoneri went ahead in the first half thanks to January signing Mattia Destro, but midway through the second half Massimo Maccarone nodded the visitors level to ensure the spoils were shared.
Inzaghi, who has been in charge since the start of the season, accepted that San Siro's boos will not go away without better performances but is adamant his team are on the right track.
"It is a difficult period for Milan, we have many injuries," the Rossoneri head coach told Sky Sport. "We are also very unlucky, losing Alex a few minutes in with a broken nose is exceptionally unlucky.
"It was a balanced game, we were good value for our lead. My biggest regret is the goal we conceded. Empoli are a great team, you see the work Maurizio Sarri has done with them.
"We are growing. I read criticism that I change the starting XI a lot, but I cannot play injured players. At this time we have to work on our mentality, my players need to find some belief.
"Today we have to take this point, but obviously we need to do more and think about the next game. We needed that second goal. We paid dearly for being absent-minded when Maccarone scored. It hurts to concede a goal like that.
"We have to roll up our sleeves and turn the boos at San Siro into cheers. We have great quality up front, we must try to exploit it. We are Milan, we want to control the game and stay in the opposition half."
Inzaghi's job is reported to be hanging in the balance as trigger-happy owner Silvio Berlusconi has allegedly been disappointed with Milan's results in 2014-15.
Roma weren't even aiming at the goal, blasts Garcia
By Miles Chambers
Feb 15, 2015 17:41:44
The coach was incredibly frustrated with his side's profligacy and accepted that the boos from home fans at the final whistle were deserved
Roma coach Rudi Garcia has accused his players of not even trying to shoot on target as they were held by bottom-of-the-table Parma on Sunday.
The Giallorossi missed out on their chance to close the gap at the top of Serie A to five points by failing to score against a team who had kept just two clean sheets in 2014-15 before the game, drawing 0-0 with Roberto Donadoni's men.
Garcia refused to use injuries and illnesses as an excuse for their fifth draw in six Serie A matches, which could cost them dearly in the chase for the Scudetto should Juventus open up the gap to 10 points with a victory over Cesena.
"In the second half we played better and raised our tempo, but Parma played with everyone behind the ball and we couldn’t find the breakthrough to change the game in our favour," Garcia told Sky Sport.
"We were too slow at the start and didn’t get enough shots on target. It’s difficult to score if you don’t aim for the goal and that was our biggest problem.
"It’s a difficult time for us and we had to play with some players who weren’t in the best condition. Miralem Pjanic couldn't play with flu as well, though we are not using it as an excuse.
"We have to play better and should’ve beaten Parma today no matter the circumstances."
Garcia also addressed the boos and jeers which rang around the sparsely populated Stadio Olimpico at the half-time and full-time whistle, acknowledging that fans have a right to be annoyed with recent results.
"The fans are disappointed, that’s normal, and so are we after a draw against the bottom club in Serie A," he added. "We made a mistake and now have to give everything in the next game.
"Roma fans want to see us win. Congratulations to Parma, though, as they never gave up and closed all the spaces."
Toure to Inter would be great for Serie A, says Mancini
By Joe Wright
Feb 14, 2015 15:15:33
The former Manchester City boss remains hopeful of convincing the Ivorian to move to Milan and says Mauro Icardi's decision not to celebrate is no concern
Roberto Mancini believes the signing of Yaya Toure could be a lift to the whole of Italian football - and help Inter challenge for Serie A supremacy again.
Mancini has made no secret of his desire to bring the Cote d'Ivoire international to Giuseppe Meazza from Manchester City, having coached the midfielder while in charge of the current Premier League champions.
With the Nerazzurri battling to return to the summit of Serie A after struggling in recent seasons, Mancini feels Toure could be the right calibre of player to help them reach their goals - and provide a lift to the division as a whole.
“We hope to be back there [at the top] and Yaya Toure is a great player," Mancini told reporters. "If we managed to sign him, it would be great for all of Italian football, just as it would if any Serie A side bought a champion."
Mancini also stressed he is not concerned by the attitude of star striker Mauro Icardi, who caught the eye when he opted not to celebrate when scoring twice in the win over Palermo.
"He seems very relaxed and he's not the kind of guy who gets upset about things," Mancini explained. "I don’t mind him not celebrating if he scores twice every game!
"I personally think celebrating is wonderful for a player, but it doesn't matter to me."
Inter face Atalanta on Sunday looking to bolster their European chase, and Mancini has warned his side to expect a tough game against a team who were unfortunate to lose to Fiorentina last time out.
"We face an Atalanta side coming off an undeserved defeat. They're a solid team, and difficult to play against," he said.
"As long as there is hope [of Europe], you have to do everything. We have to change our attitude. At home, we're a great team, and that shouldn't change away.
"It will take time to see the Inter that I want, but that doesn't mean we can't always improve."
The Giallorossi have had a disastrous start to 2015 without the Ivorian, but the coach insists that no members of his squad are indispensable
Roma coach Rudi Garcia insists that his side are not reliant on Gervinho as the Ivorian prepares to return to the starting XI for Sunday’s home clash against Parma.
Gervinho has not played for his club in 2015 due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations and his absence has coincided with a disastrous run of form for Roma.
The Giallorossi have won just one of their last five Serie A games, falling seven points behind leaders Juventus.
“Nobody is indispensable, as every player is part of the collective,” Garcia said in his pre-match press conference when asked about the ex-Arsenal man. “We can play better, certainly, but need to be more solid in defence and attack.
“Every game is fundamental, whether it’s in a league or a knockout tie. I expect my players to give their all in every match, starting from Parma.”
Gervinho’s countryman Seydou Doumbia joined Roma during the January transfer window and, after some complications with his registration, is available for selection against Parma.
“Doumbia had a long journey before coming here, as he went from Africa to Moscow to complete some paperwork,” Garcia noted.
“We know the kind of player he is - a hitman who puts the ball in the net. This is what we expect from him. He only had one training session with us but he is ready now.”
Francesco Totti and Douglas Maicon are injured for the match against Serie A’s bottom club, while Jose Holebas is suspended.
Cesena 2 Juventus 2: Vidal misses penalty as champions falter
15 February 2015
Franco Brienza secured a fine 2-2 draw for struggling Cesena against Juventus on Sunday, with Arturo Vidal missing a penalty.
Juventus missed the opportunity to go nine points clear at the Serie A summit as Franco Brienza's second-half equaliser rescued a 2-2 draw for Cesena on Sunday.
The reigning champions looked set to take all three points when Arturo Vidal stepped up to take an 82nd-minute penalty, but the Chile star missed the target, leaving Juve to rue not capitalising on Roma's 0-0 draw with Parma earlier in the day.
Cesena's battling display gave little indication of their precarious position in the relegation zone, with Milan Djuric giving the hosts a deserved lead 17 minutes in.
Juve, shocked into action, were level just before the half-hour mark, Alvaro Morata finding the net.
Claudio Marchisio then put the visitors ahead six minutes later, but Cesena rallied after the break and enjoyed significant periods of control before Brienza struck the leveller with 20 minutes left.
Vidal's failure to net from the spot late on, though, summed up an opportunity missed for Massimiliano Allegri's side.
Juve showed few signs of their imperious form during the early exchanges, relying on goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to keep them on level terms.
The Italy shot-stopper first palmed Gregoire Defrel’s effort around the post, before then denying the Frenchman again in the 10th minute after he had seized on an error by Leonardo Bonucci.
Cesena's bright start eventually paid off in the 17th minute and Defrel was at the centre of things again, this time robbing Andrea Pirlo of possession before playing a pass into Djuric in the area, with the Bosnian firing a shot under Buffon.
That goal seemed to jolt Juve into life and Allegri's side were level 10 minutes later, Morata heading in Paul Pogba's excellent left-wing cross.
Uncertainty in the Cesena defence then allowed Juve to complete the turnaround in the 33rd minute.
Stefano Lucchini and Giuseppe De Feudis failed to deal with Morata's flick-on from a Patrice Evra throw-in and Marchisio was on hand to prod the ball beyond Nicola Leali.
Pirlo almost opened up a two-goal lead for Juve just before the break, but his powerful 25-yard drive flew just wide of the left-hand post.
Cesena began to cause problems again early in the second half, with Defrel’s low drive across the face of goal in the 54th minute giving Buffon something to worry about.
Juve continued to invite pressure and the home side went close again with 64 minutes on the clock, Brienza this time lashing a half-volley just over from just inside the area.
Brienza was not so wasteful a few moments later, though, as the attacker pounced on Djuric's lay-off and drilled a low shot beyond Buffon.
Cesena's efforts looked as though they would count for nothing when Lucchini handled the ball in the area with eight minutes left.
But Vidal sent the resulting spot-kick wide of the left-hand post and Cesena ultimately held on to secure a deserved draw.
Serie A Review: Top two held, Guarin inspires Inter
15 February 2015
It was a frustrating day for Serie A title rivals Juventus and Roma, as both sides were held to draws by relegation-threatened opposition.
Both Juventus and Roma dropped points on Sunday as strugglers Cesena and Roma earned valuable draws against Serie A's leading duo.
Juve missed the chance to go nine points clear at the summit as Franco Brienza's second-half equaliser rescued a 2-2 draw for Cesena.
The reigning champions looked set to take all three points when Arturo Vidal stepped up to take an 82nd-minute penalty, but the Chile star missed the target, leaving Juve to rue not capitalising on Roma's 0-0 draw with Parma earlier in the day.
Cesena's battling display gave little indication of their precarious position in the relegation zone, with Milan Djuric giving the hosts a deserved lead 17 minutes in, before Alvaro Morata levelled soon after.
Claudio Marchisio put the visitors ahead in the 33rd minute, but Cesena rallied after the break and enjoyed significant periods of control before Brienza struck the leveller with 20 minutes left, securing a draw as Vidal went on to miss his late spot-kick.
Fredy Guarin hit two stunning strikes and set up the other two as Inter hammered 10-man Atalanta 4-1 to climb back into the top half of the table.
The Colombian was straight in the action as he was fouled for Xherdan Shaqiri's second-minute penalty, before Maximiliano Moralez restored parity with just under half an hour played.
But Guarin then intervened with his first goal before the break, curling superbly into the bottom corner.
Yohan Benalouane’s red card just after half-time did not help Atalanta's chances and Guarin then hit home an even better strike shortly after, with Rodrigo Palacio rounding off the win 18 minutes from time.
Empoli came from behind to claim a deserved 1-1 draw at 10-man Milan after Mattia Destro had given the hosts the lead with his first goal for the club.
The striker hooked home from a Giacomo Bonaventura cross in the 40th minute to hand Milan the advantage against the run of play, but Massimo Maccarone clinched a draw in the second half, with Diego Lopez receiving a red card towards the end for handling outside his area.
Genoa recorded arguably the win of the day, thumping Verona 5-2 at home to move up to sixth place, just behind Lazio, who themselves beat Udinese 1-0.
Chievo moved four points clear of the bottom three with a 2-1 victory over UEFA Europa League hopefuls Sampdoria, while Torino were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Cagliari.
Cesena held Serie A pacesetters Juventus to a 2-2 draw on Sunday, leaving Massimiliano Allegri questioning his side's mindset.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri questioned the collective attitude of his squad after an unconvincing 2-2 draw at struggling Cesena on Sunday.
Domenico De Carlo's men went into the match second bottom in Serie A, with Juve tipped to claim a routine win and go nine points clear of Roma, who drew with Parma.
But the champions faltered at Stadio Dino Manuzzi, as Franco Brienza salvaged a deserved draw for the hosts 20 minutes from time.
Arturo Vidal missed the opportunity to give Juve a slender win when he put an 82nd-minute penalty wide of the target, but Allegri believes his team's attitude was the problem.
He told Sky Italia: "On the one hand such results are painful, but on the other they get our feet back on the ground to cancel out any signs of arrogance.
"Above all we need to reflect on our attitude in this game. It is a shame, as we would have extended our lead, but today proved for us and Roma that everyone must respect Serie A opponents, as games are won on the pitch, not on paper.
"We weren't in the right mood for this match. Cesena are in good shape, attack teams and on an artificial surface the ball moves quickly. If you are not reactive it becomes difficult.
"It was a bad performance. It is a pity because this would have been an important step towards the title. [But] our advantage remains unchanged."
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon shouldered responsibility for not inspiring his team-mates in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Cesena.
Serie A leaders Juventus were uninspiring in their 2-2 draw with second-bottom Cesena and captain Gianluigi Buffon said he failed in his role as captain, having not done enough to restore focus among his team-mates.
Juve missed the chance to go nine points clear of Roma atop the table after Arturo Vidal missed a penalty eight minutes from the end at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi on Sunday.
Goals from Alvaro Morata and Claudio Marchisio cancelled out Milan Djuric's opener and gave the Italian champions a first-half lead.
Cesena rallied after the interval and enjoyed periods of control before Franco Brienza restored parity with 20 minutes remaining.
Juve were seemingly set to steal the points eight minutes from the end when Stefano Lucchini handled the ball inside the area, though Vidal missed the target completely to cap a disappointing outing for the visitors.
"The distance at the top remains unchanged and frankly that's what we were hoping for," Buffon told Sky Sport Italia.
"However, it's obvious to admit that after seeing Roma's result we had hoped for more. It was a very unsatisfactory performance, especially the opening 20 minutes in which we allowed chances that a team like ours should not permit.
"With all due respect for Cesena, who played a great game tonight, it is our fault if we failed to get all three points.
"The attitude was wrong and in these situations the blame is above all down to the captain. It is my job to keep the players fired up and focused both in the locker room and on the pitch. Evidently I failed in that duty tonight."
Buffon added: "Some of our less experienced players need to understand that nobody will give us the Scudetto.
"We have to earn it each and every weekend. In fact, because we are Juventus, we have to win with a 15-point margin before people will give us credit for our success.
"We cannot go around throwing away opportunities like this. The Roma result probably made us think this was going to be easy, but a team like ours cannot allow itself to be influenced by other scorelines."
The Colombia international wants to follow in the footsteps of Javier Zanetti and is delighted with his side's performances in their last two games
Fredy Guarin has set his sights on becoming a leader for Inter and has hailed head coach Roberto Mancini's influence in his recent resurgence.
The 28-year-old is one of the squad's most experienced players following the departure of veterans Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Walter Samuel in the summer.
Guarin scored twice in Inter's 4-1 win over Atalanta at the weekend and revealed his desire to become even more influential at San Siro.
"Can I be a leader in the future? Well, it was different when the likes of Zanetti were here, but now I always try to play like a leader on the pitch," the Colombia international told the club's official website.
"Having the confidence of the coach is absolutely vital, both for individual players and the team as a whole. I’m feeling good and I’d like to thank the coach, the technical staff and all my team-mates for the faith they’ve shown in me."
Sunday's win over Atalanta was Inter's second consecutive victory after a string of disappointing performances and Guarin is delighted the team have bounced back.
"Everything’s coming together. The most important thing is the team’s performance, because that helps individual players to do even better.
"Mancini’s faith has been fundamental to us. The boss brings bags of enthusiasm every single day.
"It’s really important that we’ve started winning. We’ve been having a tough time of it but that’s two wins in a row now. We’re playing well and the team is enjoying an important spell."
Inter currently sit ninth in the Serie A table with 32 points from 23 games.
Rangers are set to help arch-rivals Celtic's UEFA Europa League opponents Inter, who will use Murray Park to train.
Inter are set to practice at Rangers' Murray Park training ground before their UEFA Europa League round-of-32 first leg against Celtic in Glasgow.
Rangers, who play in the second-tier Scottish Championship and lost 2-0 to neighbours Celtic in the League Cup semi-final earlier this month, have been asked by Inter to loan their training facility.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini likes to work on set-pieces on the morning of games.
The move has precedence with Rangers having allowed Juventus to train at Murray Park before the Turin-based club defeated Celtic 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League in 2013.
"Yes, training at Rangers is an option. We will decide on Thursday morning," Mancini said, according to The Scotsman.
When asked about the possibility of Rangers helping Inter, Celtic midfielder Kris Commons could not resist a jibe at his club's arch-rivals.
"If they want to prepare at a division three training ground let them get on with it," the 31-year-old said, referring to Rangers' effective relegation to the fourth tier of Scottish football in 2012 after going bankrupt.
