Juventus’s pursuit of the Serie A summit suffered a significant setback on Saturday, held to a 1-1 draw at home by a resilient Lecce side. The pivotal moment came late in the match when a failed Panenka-style penalty from forward Jonathan David squandered the chance for a crucial victory.
The hosts, despite dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities, found themselves trailing at halftime. Lecce’s Lameck Banda capitalized on a defensive error to strike just before the interval. Juventus responded quickly after the restart, with an effort from Kenan Yildiz deflecting into the path of Weston McKennie, who leveled the score.
The game’s defining incident arrived when a handball by Lecce’s Mohamed Kaba gifted Juventus a penalty. David, the designated taker, opted for a chipped shot down the center, but goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone read the attempt, making a comfortable save. Falcone later produced another fine stop to deny David a winner, and a Yildiz strike hit the post in added time, compounding the frustration for the home supporters, who voiced their displeasure at the final whistle.
The result leaves Juventus in fourth place, five points behind league leaders AC Milan, who have a game in hand. For Lecce, the hard-earned point provides a valuable boost in their fight to avoid relegation.