Ten-man Juventus hold out for point at Roma

Second-placed Juventus, down to 10 men for the entire second half, produced an excellent defensive performance as they held on for a goalless draw at leaders AS Roma in Serie A on Sunday.

Juventus defender Mark Iuliano was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 41st minute following a lunging late challenge on Brazilian wing-back Cafu, who had been the focal point of Roma's pressure throughout the first half.

But Roma will be disappointed that they failed to make their numerical advantage count after largely dominating proceedings.

With third-placed Inter Milan slipping up at Bologna, it was a chance for Roma to pull away but they lacked the cutting edge to break Juventus down.

Roma lead Serie A on 45 points with Juve a point behind and Inter on 43 points.

Rejuvenated Roma striker Gabriel Batistuta, who had scored in each of the previous three games, had the first chance but lobbed over the bar after a pass from Vincent Candela.

A minute later he forced an excellent save out of Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon with a point blank header from a Cafu cross, which the Italy number one did well to block.

Juve's first opening came from former Lazio midfielder Pavel Nedved whose long-range free-kick forced a good save out of Roma goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli.

But then Iuliano was booked for a reckless foul on Damiano Tomassi and followed that up with the late tackle on the ever-dangerous Cafu, which left referee Graziano Cesari with no option but to produce the red card.

Juve coach Marcello Lippi reorganised at the interval, replacing striker Alessandro Del Piero with midfielder Antonio Conte as Juve set out their stall for a draw.

But Batistuta again seemed most likely to score, firing a long-range free kick that Buffon could only parry.

Roma's best chance came 20 minutes from the end when Marco Delvecchio got behind the Juventus defence and squared for Gabriel Batistuta, but substitute Gianluca Pessotto intervened with a fine block.

Juve's disciplined shape seemed to take the creativity out of Roma, who struggled to create worthwhile openings, failing to maintain the pressure that may have brought a winner.

Roma defender Christian Panucci went close with a header from a corner and then nodded into the side netting from a Lima cross, which many in the stadium thought had gone in, but the game eventually petered out disappointingly.