Sassuolo continue to indiscriminately hoof the ball clear and sit deep in their own half, looking to frustrate Allegri's side until the very last. Pereyra skips inside from the right, before seeing a low drive easily blocked.
90' +3
L. Bonucci gets yellow.
90' +2
Coman and Vrsaljko clash, as the former tries to scamper his way down the wing, but the Croatia international appeared to go down very easily. He receives some treatment on his shoulder, but Juve's Frenchman still can't believe that the referee has penalised him.
90'
There are four minutes of stoppage time left for Juve to find an equaliser.
89'
Bonucci tries to meet a near post corner delivery, but Antei stays with the central defender to ensure that he can't turn home a header. Juve are pushing forward, but Sassuolo are looking likely to ride out the second-half storm and keep it level.
87'
F. Acerbi gets yellow.
Acerbi picks up a yellow card for a heavy tackle on Tevez, as the midfielder slides in desperately to halt a counter. Zaza then races into the corner, in an attempt to wind down the clock somewhat.
85'
Coman tries to get to the near post, after Giovinco cuts back a cross from the right byline, but the Frenchman can only skew a sliced effort into the side netting. Consigli keeps his cool to dribble around Tevez as he looks to close down the Sassuolo goalkeeper.
84'
S. Giovinco enters the game and replaces A. Pirlo.
83'
Sassuolo lump a direct ball up to Zaza, but it is far too heavy and Buffon is able to collect with ease. The home side are rarely venturing out of their own half now, with the ball appearing to be in Juve's court in terms of forcing the issue. Giovinco replaces Pirlo, as Allegri rolls the dice.
Minute
Description
81'
Less than ten minutes remain to find a winner, with Pogba the only man seeming to have the inspiration required to break the deadlock. Juve are pressing forward with a definite sense of urgency, but the more the Bianconeri push on, the more space is left for Zaza to exploit.
79'
S. Taïder enters the game and replaces S. Missiroli.
Missiroli is replaced, as Sassuolo look to keep things fresh in the dying minutes. Tevez lets fly ambitiously from 30 yards out, but Consigli is confident enough to watch the ball zip into the advertising hoardings.
77'
Pogba forces Consigli another save, after a brilliant run from Tevez ends up with the ball bobbling into the France international's path. He controls a volley inside the near post, but the goalkeeper dives across smartly to his right!
76'
Coman scampers across the penalty area, before looking to collect possession on the edge of the six-yard box, but the Frenchman's first touch escapes him and rolls behind for a goal kick. With only a quarter of an hour left to play, there's a real sense of desperation in Juve's play.
74'
Vrsaljko chases an ambitious ball down the right in vain, but the Croatian wing-back is unable to keep it in play. Tevez and Pereyra link up well, but the latter is caught narrowly offside as he looked to scoop a delicate finish over Consigli.
72'
Chiellini meets a corner delivery at the near post, but isn't able to get enough contact on the ball to steer it inside the upright. Pereyra then battles down the right before cutting back a cross, but Coman can merely scoop an effort over the bar from eight yards out.
70'
D. Biondini enters the game and replaces N. Sansone.
Zaza and Sansone try to link up and release the latter down the left flank, but Ogbonna steps out well to make a timely interception. Biondini is warming up on the sidelines for the home side, with the fiery midfielder definitely having the fight required to battle to a valiant point.
68'
Di Francesco continues to patrol the edge of his technical area and share instructions, as the Italian coach looks to mastermind an upset. Juve have been the better side in terms of possession in the second half, but Sassuolo are set up to hold their shape and counter.
66'
K. Coman enters the game and replaces Fernando Llorente.
Pogba needs to watch his step, after the France international bundles two Sassuolo to the ground in quick succession. If Allegri doesn't replace the former Man United midfielder, he could be in the dressing room rather earlier than his teammates. Coman takes to the field in place of Llorente.
65'
Sansone receives the ball on the left flank once again, but Marchisio tracks back to rob the winger of possession. Zaza then sends a piledriver towards goal, but Buffon manages to get behind the ball and beat it away from his box.
63'
Pirlo gets his wires crossed, with the experienced playmaker curling a crossfield ball straight out of play instead of finding the feet of Ogbonna. Pogba wins possession on the edge of the box, before dancing onto his stronger right foot, but sees his eventual shot blocked.
61'
Within moments of taking to the field, Marchisio tries his luck, following a great run down the right from Pereyra. The Italy international doesn't make good contact with the ball, however, sending it way wide of the far post.
60'
C. Marchisio enters the game and replaces P. Evra.
59'
Sassuolo have the opportunity to throw another free kick delivery into the area, but again Buffon is left untested. With narrowly over an hour left to play, Juve might have to look to their bench in order to find the formula to unlock the hosts' defence.
57'
Juve are breaking forward with more regularity, but there are too many green and black shirts taking up positions on the periphery of the penalty area. As the Bianconeri gain confidence, the hosts keep dropping deeper, making space difficult to find.
55'
Sansone is brought down on the left flank by Lichtsteiner, as the winger looked to break from a wide area. Given the intensity and competitive nature of this game, cynical tackles continue to flow. Pogba commits another, despite his booking, and thus could be on thin ice.
53'
Chiellini races into the Sassuolo penalty area, after bustling through two half-hearted challenges, before the Juve central defender is denied by an offside teammate getting in his path. Consigli is grateful to be able to take a free kick from deep in his own box, rather than trying to stop a steamrolling Chiellini.
51'
After spending plenty of time sorting out the wall and dealing with arguing Juventus players, Sassuolo are permitted to take their free kick, with Berardi standing over it. Buffon dives across to cover his top corner, but the ball sails narrowly wide of its own accord.
50'
P. Pogba gets yellow.
49'
The away side try and push from the very start of the second half, with Sassuolo pegged back deep in their own territory. Pogba gives away a free kick on the edge of the box, after clipping the heels of Sansone, earning him a booking.
47'
No changes at the break, with both coaches hoping for more of the same from their respective elevens. After a really competitive first 45 minutes, an entertaining second period should be in store.
46'
We are back underway in the second half at Stadio Citta del Tricolore, as Sassuolo bid to steal some points from the current Scudetto holders! Juve only have 45 minutes to ensure that they maintain their pace at the top of the table.
45' +2
Tevez cuts across the edge of the penalty area, before turning an improvised volley way wide of the target! That wasn't the Argentine striker's finest hour in front of goal.
45'
There are two minutes of stoppage time.
43'
Allegri's men are taking the initiative, with Consigli forced into some regular action. Tevez receives the ball on the edge of the area, before turning and shifting it out of his feet, but can only flick a tame effort over the crossbar!
41'
Less than five minutes remain until the break, with Juve starting to find a few more gaps to exploit! Consigli is forced into two great saves in quick succession, with Pogba denied once again and Tevez failing to tuck home the rebound!
39'
Great run from Lichtsteiner! The Swiss wing-back overlaps down the right-hand side, before gallivanting into the penalty area and firing a powerful shot on target! It's straight at Consigli, who parries the ball away from danger and keeps Juve at bay!
38'
S. Zaza gets yellow.
Zaza battles with Pirlo off the ball, before the striker lashes out slightly at the veteran midfielder and gets himself a yellow card for his troubles. He can't believe the referee's decision, but an angry reaction is never the way to go.
36'
Juventus earn themselves a corner on the right-hand side, which is taken short. Ogbonna receives possession deep inside the Sassuolo penalty area, but the central defender can only hook an awful effort high and wide of the target.
34'
Pirlo is starting to get more time on the ball as the game wears on, with Juventus looking more comfortable whenever he initiates the attack. With both formations essentially matching up like-for-like, both teams are struggling to find a man over on the flanks.
32'
Sansone is nearly found in behind the back three, but Buffon is quick off his line to intercept ahead of the winger. With less than a quarter of an hour before the interval, the next goal in this game could prove to be fairly important in affecting how the two teams line up for the second half.
30'
Pogba races into the penalty area, after a 20-yard burst, before losing his balance and stumbling to ground. The referee waves away claims for a penalty, though the France international could have had his legs clipped.
29'
Berardi and Sansone haven't had too much of an effect on proceedings, but neither have Juve's forward two either. Llorente and Tevez haven't been permitted time to link up, with the Argentine in particular failing to find space.
27'
Juventus are unable to take the dominant role in this game, with possession readily exchanged between the two sides and the home side pressing intelligently. Zaza keeps posing question after question for the Bianconeri back three.
25'
Sassuolo continue to threaten on the break, with Zaza trying to skip inside Bonucci, who takes no prisoners with a firm sliding tackle. Challenges are flying in on both sides and the referee is doing well to stay away from his book.
23'
Zaza is in the wars once again, with the goalscorer flattening Ogbonna, leaving the former Torino defender remonstrating vociferously with the referee. There is a real tempo and competitive side to this game, both sides are very motivated.
21'
Despite all of their good work, Sassuolo have been unravelled by a piece of inspiration from Juventus, something which can't be avoided when facing a team of the Bianconeri's calibre. Vrsaljko gets in behind down the right, before Pereyra makes an excellent recovering tackle to concede a corner.
19'
P. Pogba has scored a goal for Juventus! Assist by C. Tevez.
GOOOOOOOOOOOAL! POGBA MAKES IT 1-1! The Frenchman curls a sublime finish into the top right-hand corner, with Consigli having absolutely no chance! The goalkeeper didn't even move! After cutting inside onto his right foot, there was only one place that ball was ending up.
17'
The home fans are making plenty of noise, with there seeming to be genuine belief that Sassuolo can take some points from the current Scudetto holders. They're holding their shape well and forcing mistakes in midfield - Juventus are rattled.
15'
The opening quarter of an hour has gone perfectly to plan for the home side, as they've seen plenty of the ball and forced Buffon into some early action. After seeing a goal ruled out so close to taking the lead, Sassuolo will have to think that luck might be on their side tonight.
13'
S. Zaza has scored a goal for Sassuolo! Assist by A. Longhi.
GOOOOOOOOOOAL! ZAZA GIVES SASSUOLO THE LEAD! The Italy international forces a great save out of Buffon at first, and the chance appears to dissipate, but the rebound is turned back into the path of the striker. He lifts a smart finish into the top left corner and sends the home fans into raptures.
12'
Evra is nearly put in behind the Sassuolo back three, but Terranova steps out well to head clear. Llorente spurns a fantastic cross from the left-hand side, which Consigli parries, before Pereyra puts the rebound over the crossbar with the aid of a deflection.
GOOOOAL! But it's been ruled out! Bonucci sees one chalked off, after bundling the ball over the line from a corner and Sassuolo are let off the hook!
10'
L. Antei enters the game and replaces P. Cannavaro.
Cannavaro receives extensive treatment, with Antei readied on the sideline to replace the defender after he pulled up in chase of Llorente. He won't be fit to continue, with Di Francesco having to make a very early switch.
8'
Zaza and Bonucci show signs of things to come once again, with the Italy defender throwing himself to the ground holding his face after the slightest of touches from his compatriot. Llorente then breaks into the Sassuolo penalty area, but play is pulled back for a tug on the shirt of Cannavaro.
7'
Vrsaljko meets the free kick delivery at the back post, but the Croatia international can only steer a close-range header way over the crossbar from six yards out. Buffon was in trouble there, had the wing-back hit the target.
6'
Chances are few and far between in the opening minutes, with both teams attempting to settle down in possession and not force the issue. Sassuolo pick up a free kick from 35 yards out, which gives the hosts a chance to load the box with bodies.
4'
Sassuolo attempt to make the pitch as big as possible and play football early on, with Juventus happy to sit in shape and keep tabs on Zaza. Bonucci shows his intent early on, essentially rugby tackling the Italy international as he attempted to turn on the halfway line.
2'
From the kick off, Tevez aims for the spectacular, attempting to lob Consigli in audacious fashion. Given that the goalkeeper wasn't straying off his line, it would have had to have been something immensely special from that difference - which it most definitely wasn't.
1'
We are underway in the first half! Sassuolo are wearing their home kit of green and black, while Juventus don their famous black and white stripes. Di Francesco's men have a real task on their hands this evening!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Serie A's late kick off, as domestic football returns to Italy following the international break, with Juventus travelling to Stadio Cita del Tricolore to face Sassuolo. As Roma picked up maximum points against Roma earlier today, victory is a must for Massimiliano Allegri's men, though merely a point would ensure the Bianconeri remain top of the table.
I'm Simon Harrison and I will be keeping you up to date with proceedings, as the Bianconeri look to maintain their excellent league form with a sixth consecutive win. Sassuolo, meanwhile, are winless in their last five, which includes defeats at the hands of Inter, Napoli and Lazio. The calendar hasn't been kind to the minnows.
TEAM NEWS: Alessandro Longhi and Sime Vrsaljko prove the width at wing-back for the hosts, while Domenico Berardi and Simone Zaza provide the ex-Juventus threats which the travelling Bianconeri support will be fearing. After letting both strikers ply their trade for Sassuolo, the visitors will be hoping that their former players don't bite the hand which used to feed them.
TEAM NEWS: Roberto Pereyra is given a start in a midfield trio that includes Paul Pogba and the physically fit Andrea Pirlo. Patrice Evra is preferred to Kwadwo Asamoah at left wing-back, while Angelo Ogbonna continues in the centre of defence due to the absence of Martin Caceres. Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente start as the offensive duo, with the likes of Sebastian Giovinco and Kingsley Coman able to act as catalysts off the bench.
HALF TIME! Sassuolo are holding Juventus to a 1-1 draw at the break, with a Pogba stunner ruling out an opening goal from Zaza. The home side have battled and not let the league leaders have it their own way, there is serious potential for the Bianconeri to drop points here tonight.
Be sure to stick around for what is a very important second half, as Sassuolo continue to try and cause an upset. Zaza and Berardi have thus far proven problematic adversaries for their former employers, but Juve have grown into the half as it has progressed.
FULL TIME! Sassuolo manage to hold league leaders Juventus to a 1-1 draw at home, in a weekend which hasn't gone brilliantly for the Bianconeri following Roma's victory earlier. After a frustrating last 15 minutes, which included Padoin being sent off from on the bench in the final minute, the hosts have done it!
Goals from Zaza and Pogba ensured a point for the home side, with the Bianconeri unable to kick on from a strong second-half performance to take three points. Pogba went closest, but it's not Juve's night! I've been Simon Harrison and I hope to see you again next time.
Commentary
More…