Juventus clinched a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League after edging past Venezia 3-2 in a dramatic final-day clash of the 2024-25 Serie A campaign.
Despite conceding early, the Bianconeri staged a spirited comeback to seal their top-four finish, as Venezia joined Empoli and Monza in relegation.
Playing away at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, Juventus entered the match with Champions League qualification in their own hands.
Holding a narrow one-point cushion over Roma, who were away to Torino and with Lazio trailing closely behind ahead of their home match against Lecce, only victory would guarantee a place among Europe’s elite.
Igor Tudor’s side endured a nightmare start when Daniel Fila stunned them in just the second minute. But the visitors responded swiftly, as Kenan Yildiz and Randal Kolo Muani found the net, helped by questionable goalkeeping from Ionut Radu – to give Juve a 2-1 lead by the 31st minute.
Venezia pulled themselves level in the second half, with Ridgeciano Haps slotting home after a flick-on from Juventus substitute Renato Veiga landed at his feet. But the tide turned once more in the 73rd minute.
Former Juve player Hans Nicolussi Caviglia brought down Francisco Conceicao, conceding a penalty.
From the spot, Locatelli found the top corner for the winner, sealing Juve’s Champions League return with a fourth-place finish.
Venezia’s fate was already sealed regardless of the result, as Lecce’s 1-0 win at Lazio ensured their survival. In that heated contest, Santiago Pierotti and Alessio Romagnoli were both dismissed.
Empoli also dropped to Serie B after falling 2-1 to Hellas Verona, while Monza had been mathematically relegated before the final weekend.
Juventus’ win proved essential, as Roma, led for the last time by Claudio Ranieri, defeated Torino 2-0, thanks to goals from Leandro Paredes and Alexis Saelemaekers, finishing just a point shy of the top four. The Giallorossi will play Europa League football next term, having missed out narrowly.
Lazio, meanwhile, saw their European hopes dashed. Fiorentina leapfrogged them into sixth place via the head-to-head rule after a 3-2 win at Udinese, booking a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Juventus’ road form had been dismal in recent months, with their last away win dating back to February against Cagliari under former coach Thiago Motta.
Tudor, after three draws and a loss in his first four away matches, finally secured his maiden road victory in a crucial moment.
The match also brought personal achievements for Yildiz and Kolo Muani.
Yildiz became one of just four players born in 2005 or later to record 10 goal involvements in one of Europe’s top five leagues this season (seven goals, three assists), alongside Desire Doue, Assane Diao and Lamine Yamal.
Kolo Muani, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, notched his eighth Serie A goal, drawing comparisons with a club legend. The last Frenchman to net at least eight goals for Juve between January and the end of a top-flight season was David Trezeguet in 2005-06 (also eight).
With Champions League football secured and a new chapter beginning under Tudor, Juventus can look ahead with renewed optimism.
