What a rotten spell for Juventus, allied with the late win by Inter Milan over Fiorentina today (1-0 Milito penalty), they are close to internal implosion and giving up the scudetto chase.

Some may say 'who are Cagliari?' They have a very young, ambitious and intelligent trainer in Masimiliano Allegri, he steered this modest side to 9th last season in Serie A, and only last weekend, gave AC Milan a serious fright by losing a thrilling 4-3 match. He captured Brazilian striker Nene from Nacional in Portugal, and 7 goals in 13 games is a very good return.

Juventus have tried various formations this year. The acquisition of Diego was supposed to ensure Juventus had a playmaker to direct traffic. The planned formation was a 4-3-1-2, with Diego as the '1'. Since Momo Sisokko has returned, they have moved to a 4-2-3-1 with Momo and Melo holding, and Giovinco and Camoranesi flanking Diego and a single striker. Whilst this formation has bashed Sampdoria 5-0, it has failed twice this week, Bordeaux won 2-0 and now Cagliari.

Nene opened the scoring in the first half, running down the right hand side, he let fly from just outside the box with a shot aimed at the near corner of the net, the trajectory and speed left Buffon having to dive under it to try save it, but by the time he did, the ball was out of the net. The second came a the end of the game, as Juventus changed to a 3-5-2 to try score an equaliser, Matri who had already 3 times made Cannavaro look like an amateur,twice nutmegging him, barged past Cannavaro on the halfway line and slided a shot under Buffon on the counter to seal the points.

For Juventus, a season where they bought lavishly, Diego-Melo-Grosso-Cannavaro-Caceres, that in the last week of November, they don't have a set formation is a worry for trainer Ciro Ferrara. Claudio Ranieri was sacked for losing and for bad tactics, Ferrara has made a few tactical mistakes already this season, and fans are beginning to grumble, another season without winning is simply unacceptable. The form of striker Amauri is also worrying, he looks rock bottom. Melo and Sisokko can't pass properly, and hence Diego has no options around him, and Del Piero is not a wide player and he is constantly closed down.

Next week, Juventus host Inter Milan who have now opened a 8 point lead at the top, if Juventus lose this one, they are 11 points behind and that is the Serie A title sewn up. Big and tense week in Turin, and if they don't have enough problems already, they face Bayern Munich in a Champions League play off in 2 weeks.