Juventus rallies; AC Milan shocked

MILAN: Serie A champion Juventus came from behind to beat Genoa 3-1 yesterday and extend its perfect record ahead of its return to the Champions League.
Ciro Immobile gave Genoa the lead against the club which still owns half his contract, and the home side had several chances to double its advantage as Juventus seemed headed for its first league defeat since May, 2011.
However, Mirko Vucinic and Kwadwo Asamoah came on in the second half to completely change the game. Emanuele Giaccherini leveled before Vucinic gave Juventus the lead from the penalty spot.
Asamoah sealed the result eight minutes from time.
Napoli, Lazio and Sampdoria also won to maintain their 100 percent records after three matches.
Roma gave up a two-goal advantage to lose 3-2 to Bologna, which picked up its first points of the season.
AC Milan were booed off the pitch after suffering a shock 1-0 home defeat by Atalanta in Serie A on Saturday night following a second-half Luca Cigarini strike that stunned the San Siro.
The setback piled the pressure on Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri whose team are stuck in mid-table on three points having lost two of their first three league games this season.
“To lose your first two home games of the season isn’t pleasant,” said an uncomfortable Allegri who declined to comment on his relationship with club vice-president Adriano Galliani.
Earlier, Cagliari’s Marco Sau came off the bench to snatch a late headed goal in a fortunate 1-1 draw at Palermo.
Atalanta, who had two points deducted for their role in the latest match-fixing scandal, never let Milan relax with German Denis causing problems with his hold-up play and movement.
The Argentine, nicknamed The Tank because of his strength, could have opened the scoring after 20 minutes when he pounced on a Francesco Acerbi error but his shot hit the post.
Six minutes later Milan, yet to score at home this season following the sale of Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris Saint-Germain, could have scored themselves after forcing Andrea Consigli to make a spectacular double save.
First the keeper kept out Stephan El Shaarawy’s long-range strike and then the rebound off Gianpaolo Bellini to prevent a comical own goal after the defender had raced back to clear.
The second half was short on chances with both sides seeming content to shoot from distance but Atalanta struck after 64 minutes when Cigarini raced onto a Denis lay-off and skidded a low shot across Christian Abbiati’s body from 25 meters.
Milan, who host Anderlecht in the Champions League on Tuesday, reacted by being more aggressive and would have equalized if Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Nocerino had connected with crosses with the goal at their mercy.
However, Atalanta could have doubled their lead with six minutes left only for Cristian Raimondi towaste the chance by shooting straight at Abbiati after a smart counter-attack.
Despite Milan’s continued pressure, Stefano Colantuono’s Atalanta side held on for a victory that puts them on two points, taking into account the two points they have been deducted, and lifts them out of the relegation zone.
Allegri is hoping the start of Milan’s Champions League campaign can kick-start their stuttering season.

“I believe that we have to continue to work, but fortunately on Tuesday we have our match in the Champions League that will give us the opportunity to redeem ourselves and get going again” he told reporters.