Manolo Gabbiadini struck in the second half to put the brakes on Juventus's title charge on Sunday as Sampdoria grabbed a 1-1 draw in Turin to hand Roma a scudetto lifeline on Sunday.

Frenchman Patrice Evra gave the Italian champions a half-time lead when he headed home from a corner in the 12th minute to score his first goal for the club.

However Sampdoria, who handed Juventus their last home defeat, in January 2013, were back on level terms six minutes after the restart after fledgling Italy striker Gabbiadini beat Gianluigi Buffon with a fine curling drive.

Juve's third draw of the season, and their first at home, has left Massimiliano Allegri's side with a four-point lead on Roma, who can reduce their deficit to a point if they account for third-placed Genoa later Sunday.

Allegri steered his side into the last 16 of the Champions League with a scoreless draw at home to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

But the 47-year-old coach's decision to keep Andrea Pirlo on the bench, as the club look towards the Italian Super Cup against Napoli in Doha on December 22, looked to have backfired.

Allegri also left Fernando Llorente on the bench with fellow Spaniard Alvaro Morata spearheading the Juve attack with Carlos Tevez.

Sampdoria coach Sinisa Mihajlovic called for "11 warriors" on the pitch at Juventus Stadium, but his side looked lost in an opening half dominated outrageously by the hosts.

Morata got his head to Roberto Pereyra's probing cross from the right but nodded wide and minutes later the Spaniard pivoted on a low pass to test Romero with a fierce first-timer which the 'keeper blocked at his near post.

Juventus took the lead moments later, Evra rising above the Sampdoria defence to head downwards past Romero for his opening Juve goal.

Romero was tested again on 22 minutes with a superb effort from Claudio Marchisio that forced the 'keeper to parry at his top right-hand corner.

Juventus should have doubled their lead when Pogba, despite being manhandled by Fabrizio Cacciatore, swept the ball just over the crossbar from close range after running on to a long ball from midfield.

Juve sufffered a scare on 37 minutes when a low corner found Cacciatore on the edge of the area and his low drive was deflected into the path of Daniele Gastaldello, forcing Buffon to scramble at his near post.

Within five minutes of the restart, Pereyra had two shots on the Sampdoria goal but the hosts were stunned moments later.

Gabbiadini finished off a nice Samp build-up by collecting Eder's pass on the right edge of the area and beating Buffon with a curling drive that sneaked inside the 'keeper's far post.

Juventus continued to dominate, but the goal took the fizz out of their game and Allegri made late substitutions, with Llorente, Kingsley Coman and Sebastian Giovinco replacing Morata, Pereyra and Tevez in the final 20 minutes.

Sampdoria came close to snatching a late winner when Gabbiadini was allowed time to fire a shot which, after glancing off the back of Angelo Ogbonna, almost wrong-footed the 'keeper who had to be at full stretch to parry two minutes from time.