A contest that had huge ramifications on both ends of the table started quickly as Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli fired wide from the edge of the area inside the opening minute.
Far from being a prelude of things to come, that chance was more of a false dawn, with quality and conviction in desperately short supply from both sides.
Parma were forced into an early tactical change when Alessandro Vogliacco went off injured, and they adapted much better to the switch than the visitors.
Having wasted several presentable openings, Cristian Chivu’s men finally capitalised in the first minute of stoppage time, breaking the deadlock when Emmanuele Valeri’s pinpoint cross was met by Mateo Pellegrino, who headed home with authority from close range.
A similarly lifeless start to the second half from the Bianconeri prompted Igor Tudor into changes, but it was Parma who carried a greater threat on the break.
A well-worked move from the hosts culminated in a one-two between Simon Sohm and Pellegrino, though the former’s effort was tame and snapped up by Michele De Gregorio.
Juventus were staring down the barrel of a first defeat against sides currently in the bottom half this season, and despite keeping the hosts penned into their own third, they were unable to break through a staunch rearguard.
Tension remained rife in the stands with Parma having drawn each of their last five matches, but after Francisco Conceição fired narrowly wide, they held strong to secure a crucial win that moves them six points clear of the relegation zone.
It’s a big missed opportunity for Juventus though, as they missed out on the chance to climb into the top four thanks to a first defeat under Tudor.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mateo Pellegrino (Parma)