Details the difference in Juve loss, says Giampaolo

Sampdoria were the last team to beat Juventus in the league. Given the Bianconeri’s run of form since then, perhaps a repeat result would have been too much to ask.

“The details are what make the difference,” Marco Giampaolo said after the defeat, pointing to the first goal conceded as well as chances for Duvan Zapata and Gaston Ramirez, which could have brought his side level.

“Douglas Costa changed the game. It was a real shame to concede at that moment in the first half,” he added.

“We should perhaps have been given a free-kick in the lead up to the goal. Because Juan Cuadrado takes a quick free kick, putting his hand on the ball first. Then Paulo Dybala touches the ball with his hand too, to stop the ball on the ground.

“I point it out to show how something that might get ignored can actually make such a difference. We’d have probably lost anyway. We came here to play our game.”

As for Fabio Quagliarella’s substitution at half time, the boss underlined the need to keep the front man fresh for Doria’s next fixture on Wednesday.

“I didn’t want to burn him out, making him play 90 minutes. The push for European places is still open. We know which games we need to win, and that starts with Wednesday’s match against Bologna.”