Fulham last night beat Juventus 4-1 in London to advance to the quarter finals of the Europa League. This defeat is the icing on the cake for Juve’s disastrous season. Not only is Juve’s loss an utter embarassment, it is also a mockery of Italian football. Juventus is now officially the laughing stock of Italian football at least until the end of the season.

I am still trying to come to terms with the outcome of this result. Its implications on Juve and the rest of the Serie A is grave. In my opinion, there is no reason why the Bianconeri should have lost this game. Italian clubs are known for their defensive prowess. In light of all the injuries and suspensions Juve were facing, no one would have blamed them if they decided to defend their 3-1 advantage.

Already out of contention in all major competitions, Alberto Zaccheroni should not have taken any chances with this match. This was the perfect opportunity for the ‘Old Lady’ to gain some respect in the European arena after suffering a humiliating 4-1 home exit at the hands of Bayern Munich in the group stages of the Champions League.

It does not matter whether Juventus started the match brighter than their hosts, of paramount importance is the fact that Fulham advanced and they didn’t. The only hope Juventus are left with now is a top four finish in the league and if they are not careful, they might be out of contention for a spot in year’s Champions League. Final aggregate score Fulham 5-4 Juventus.

Photo credit: galleria futbolera