MILAN (AP) — The race for fourth place in Serie A keeps getting tighter and if Juventus fails to qualify for next season’s Champions League, defender Pierre Kalulu might shoulder significant blame.
Lazio snatched a 1-1 draw against Juventus, one of its direct rivals for fourth spot, on Saturday. The match changed on the hour mark when Kalulu was sent off for hitting an opponent while his team led 1-0.
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Lazio's Matias Vecino celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Lazio's head coach Marco Baroni gives indications to his players during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Juventus' head coach Igor Tudor during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)
Juventus's Randal Kolo Muani, left, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Juventus's Randal Kolo Muani scores during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Fourth-placed Juventus remained level on points with Lazio, above the capital team thanks to a better head-to-head record.
Roma is only a point behind and visits third-placed Atalanta on Monday. Bologna was a point further back following Friday’s loss to AC Milan and could be joined on points if Fiorentina wins at Venezia on Monday.
There are two rounds remaining.
Juventus broke the deadlock six minutes after the break when Weston McKennie floated in a cross from the left for an unmarked Randal Kolo Muani to head in from close range.
However, just nine minutes later, Kalulu was sent off after video review. He hit Taty Castellanos on the back of the shoulder, although the Lazio forward fell clutching his face.
Lazio leveled in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio pulled off another fine save to keep out Castellanos’ header but he couldn't stop Matías Vecino's follow-up from point-blank range. Lazio and the Stadio Olimpico celebrated wildly.
Empoli recorded its first win of 2025 and it could prove to be the most crucial, as it beat 10-man Parma 2-1 in a relegation battle to move out of the bottom three.
Jacopo Fazzini swept a corner kick into the roof of the net in the 11th minute and matters appeared to be going the Tuscan team's way even more when Parma was reduced to 10 men in the 31st.
Defender Lautaro Valenti, who needlessly earned himself a yellow card nine minutes earlier for slapping an opponent on the leg after being tripped, was even more foolish in receiving a second booking for dragging back another player by the jersey.
Milan Duric managed to bundle in a surprise equalizer for the 10 men of Parma in the 73rd but Tino Anjorin curled into the top right corner four minutes from time to secure Empoli's first win in five months.
Empoli moved a point above Lecce, which visits Hellas Verona on Sunday. Parma was only five points above the relegation zone.
Como recovered from from a huge mistake from its goalkeeper to beat Cagliari 3-1.
It was a sixth straight win for Cesc Fabregas’ team, which had already secured Serie A safety. Cagliari will have to wait a little longer as it was six points above the relegation zone, with most of the teams below it still to play this weekend.
Cagliari took the lead in the 20th when Pepe Reina allowed Michel Adopo’s shot to squirm under his body.
Como's Maxence Caqueret leveled in the 40th and Gabriel Strefezza fired the hosts in front in stoppages. Patrick Cutrone sealed the result on his 100th appearance for Como.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Lazio's Matias Vecino celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Lazio's head coach Marco Baroni gives indications to his players during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Juventus' head coach Igor Tudor during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)
Juventus's Randal Kolo Muani, left, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Juventus's Randal Kolo Muani scores during the Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Juventus at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Josh Allen took a pounding, doled out punishment and delivered Buffalo its first road playoff victory in more than three decades, 27-24 over Jacksonville in the AFC's wild-card opener Sunday.
With linebacker Devin Lloyd bearing down on him, Allen found Brandin Cooks for 36 yards just before the two-minute warning and then capped the go-ahead drive with a 1-yard touchdown run in which Jacksonville let him score.
On the play before his score, Allen gained 10 yards on a sneak, refusing to go down while being pushed and pulled to the goal line.
“Just trusting everybody on the field,” Allen said. "Great win, great team win. All we’ve got to do is play our game, find a way to win a football game. We’re on to the next.”
Buffalo will play at Denver or New England next week, a chance to build a road winning streak after a decades-long skid.
“We got to go do it again. We got to go do it again," Allen said.
Focused on getting rid of the ball quickly and negating Jacksonville’s pass rush most of the game, Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. He ran for two scores, was sacked just once and played turnover-free football. Khalil Shakir caught 12 passes for 82 yards for the Bills.
It was necessary considering NFL rushing leader James Cook was mostly bottled up, finishing with 46 yards on 15 carries.
“You know, we’re going to play for each other, we’re gonna fight to the very last second, and you saw that here today,” Allen said.
Buffalo (13-5) intercepted a deflected pass on Jacksonville’s final drive to seal the victory.
The Bills had been 0-5 on the road in the playoffs under coach Sean McDermott, starting with a 10-3 loss at Jacksonville in the 2017 wild-card round. The Bills had dropped eight consecutive postseason games on the road since winning at Miami in the 1992 AFC championship game. It had been the NFL’s second-longest, active road playoff skid.
The Jaguars (13-5) took the lead with 4:03 to play on Trevor Lawrence’s third TD pass of the game, but they couldn’t hold it against the NFL’s reigning MVP.
Lawrence completed 18 of 30 passes for 207 yards, with TD throws to Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington and Travis Etienne. Washington finished with seven catches for 107 yards.
Coach Liam Coen surely will get questioned for not running the ball more against one of the league’s most porous run defenses.
Etienne and rookie Bhayshul Tuten combined for 118 yards on just 14 carries.
Allen, meanwhile, showed his toughness. He twice ended up in the medical tent in the first half but didn’t miss a snap. He got hammered in the head twice during one play, with Josh Hines-Allen landing on the side of his helmet right after teammate Travon Walker tackled him to the ground. His left ear appeared to be bleeding, but he got checked out and returned.
Allen later slammed his right hand into the helmet of right guard O’Cyrus Torrence after releasing the ball. And he completed the injury trifecta when his left leg got bent awkwardly on his 2-yard TD run.
Allen stayed on the ground following that last hit from Hines-Allen and gingerly walked to the sideline and back into the tent. But, as usual, the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder powered through and was back on the field making plays.
The Jaguars had a chance to tie the game at the end of the first half, but Cam Little was wide left on a 54-yarder. The miss ended a streak of 20 consecutive field goals made for the second-year pro from Arkansas.
Little kicked the two longest field goals in NFL history this season — a 68-yarder at Las Vegas and a 67-yarder last week against Tennessee.
He got a chance after the Bills were flagged for being offside following a 34-yard completion that got Little into range.
Bills S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) was ruled out to start the third quarter, a huge loss for an already banged-up secondary. It left the Bills to play with rookie Jordan Hancock and second-year Cole Bishop. WR Gabe Davis, who played for Jacksonville last season, injured his left knee in the fourth and was carted to the locker room and ruled out. WR Tyrell Shavers injured his left knee during a punt return but returned in the second half.
Jaguars RG Patrick Mekari (back) left in the third. LG Ezra Cleveland also was banged up and alternating plays with rookie Wyatt Milum. WR Parker Washington was evaluated for a concussion in the first half and cleared to return.
The Bills will play at Denver or New England next weekend.
The Jaguars will turn their attention toward improving a roster that lacked enough difference-makers on both sides of the ball.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Buffalo Bills' Ray Davis, bottom right, fumbles a kickoff return from the Jacksonville Jaguars as teammate Baylon Spector (54) and Jacksonville Jaguars' Devin Lloyd (0) try to recover the ball during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gets up after collecting a first down near the Jacksonville Jaguars end zone later in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) pushes in for a first down as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead (91) tries to stop him during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
