The Albany Gazette - Kean fires Juve into top four with Verona winner

Italy international Kean struck his second league goal of the season just after the hour mark of a scrappy match at the Stadio Bentegodi to put Juve provisionally third in Italy's top flight.

Massimiliano Allegri's job had been up for discussion after a series of embarrassing results at home and in Europe but Juve will stay in the Champions League positions at least until the final matches of 2022 this weekend.

Lazio host Monza in the day's last match and will move above Juve and AC Milan into second place with a win at the Stadio Olimpico.

Juve, who take on Lazio on Sunday, haven't conceded a goal in their winning streak and are 10 points behind league leaders Napoli, who are eight ahead of reigning champions Milan.

Allegri's injury-ravaged outfit were missing Dusan Vlahovic, Weston McKennie and recent returnee Federico Chiesa.

Verona meanwhile stay bottom of the division following their ninth straight defeat and already look destined for relegation to Serie B.

Salvatore Bocchetti's team were denied two potential second-half penalties, the first for a Danilo handball which was not given on the field by referee Marco Di Bello.

And another was cancelled with five minutes remaining following a VAR check, after Di Bello had originally awarded a spot-kick for a foul on Simone Verdi by Leonardo Bonucci.

(T.Burkhard--BBZ)