Juventus were held yet again in Serie A as they drew 1-1 at Atalanta on Tuesday in a result that did little to aid either side's ambitions.
The Bianconeri have now drawn 13 times in the league this season, staying unbeaten but still down in fifth place.
Yet Atalanta, nine points ahead in third, have also now drawn three in a row, even if they were a little more grateful for their point after a late Mateo Retegui equaliser.
Pierre Kalulu had broken the deadlock for Juve nine minutes after half-time, finishing Weston McKennie's pass into the box by sliding the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi at the near post.
However, Atalanta built momentum and substitute Retegui, returning from injury, levelled with a diving header from Raoul Bellanova's assist in the 78th minute.
Data debrief: Draws drowning out title talk
This is only the second time in the three-points-for-a-win era a team have drawn as many as 13 of their first 20 matches in a Serie A season, with Inter going one better in 2004-05 and drawing 14.
Juve may be 13 points off the pace, but they would undoubtedly be in the title picture if even a handful of these frustrating stalemates had instead been victories.
15 - #Juventus have earned 34 points after 20 #SerieA games this season, compared to 49 of the last season at the same stage; the -15 points difference is the worst among the sides present in both campaigns in the competition. Comparison.#AtalantaJuventus pic.twitter.com/Z7R4SXebKu
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 14, 2025
Yet the same is increasingly becoming true of Atalanta. After drawing three in a row for the first time since May 2017, La Dea are four points back from leaders Napoli and only level on points with an Inter side who now have two games in hand.