Juventus coach Antonio Conte was quick to praise Sampdoria after the Blucerchiati claimed a shock 2-1 win over the Serie A leaders on Sunday.
Juve's players had been tasked with outstripping last year's record-breaking haul of 94 points and that mission certainly got off to an auspicious start when Sebastian Giovinco converted a penalty in the first half.
Samp defender Gaetano Berardi was dismissed for picking up two yellow cards before the break but the numerical advantage did little to further Juve's cause, as Mauro Icardi struck twice in the second half to inflict a third defeat of the season on the reigning champions.
And with Lazio and Napoli both picking up impressive wins - against Cagliari and Roma respectively - Juve's lead has been trimmed to just five points.
Conte remained philosophical, though, telling the club's website: "Let's congratulate Sampdoria. They did well and had a slice of luck.
"It's never easy to win at our place, but we need to conduct a deep analysis in order to work out exactly what happened.
"You can't lose games that you've dominated for long spells, where you go into the interval a goal to the good, playing against 10 men. I'm very disappointed about this.
"However, let's not forget that we're following a path of development and need to continue to keep our feet on the ground.
"Even more so now, given the month and a half of fixtures we have to face without important players."
Midfielder Claudio Marchisio will have a role to play in a busy six weeks, though, after tests revealed he had not suffered a serious injury during last night's match.
The 26-year-old was withdrawn 10 minutes from time with a suspected broken leg, but MRI scans subsequently revealed only a heavy bruise to his knee.
Matchwinning striker Icardi enjoyed possibly his best day in Samp colours since leaving Barcelona in 2011, scoring his first goals since a derby victory over Genoa with a well-taken brace.
The 19-year-old Argentinian told Gazzetta.it: "Was this the best day I've had in Italy? Yes, apart from the derby this was an absolutely incredible day.
"We're back to winning ways. We were a man down and had to fight, in this stadium you can't afford not to."
Samp's unlikely win, Delio Rossi's first since replacing Ciro Ferrara as head coach, sees them climb to 14th in the league table having arrested a run of three straight defeats.
The 20 year-old was expected to spend 10 days training with the Scottish club and had he impressed, he would move in September when the club's transfer embargo is lifted.
However, Central Coast Mariners have released a statement saying that the talented youngster had picked up a minor shoulder injury and would not be fit enough to attend the trial.
"While the injury is minor, both clubs have agreed that it is in Ryan's best interests to remain in Australia under the care of the Mariners' medical department for the foreseeable future," the A-League club said.
The injury is so minor that Ryan is expected to be fit for Saturday's league match against Melbourne Victory, further fuelling rumours that Central Coast had bowed to public pressure to call off the trial.
Former Socceroos and Manchester United keeper Mark Bosnich was one of many who opposed the move.
"I don't know what he's thinking. I don't know what the club's thinking," he told Fox Sports on Sunday.
"He's going for a 10-day trial for the right to play against the likes of Elgin City, Montrose, Clyde and Stirling, and he's going to miss a top of the table clash with Melbourne Victory.
"This is one of Australia's best young talents and he's going to go down to the fourth tier of Scottish football.
"The Scottish Premier League isn't as good as the A-League."
Brady has spent the last two months on loan at Hull and he has been instrumental in their push for promotion with the Tigers currently second in the Championship.
Hull boss Steve Bruce is a big fan of Brady and he is keen to make his stay at the club permanent as he looks to bolster his squad for the second half of the season.
The Tigers have agreed a fee with United for the Republic of Ireland international and Brady has now been given permission to hold talks and undergo a medical at the KC Stadium.
Brady is highly-regarded at United, but he has found first-team chances limited in Sir Alex Ferguson's star-studded side and they have reluctantly agreed to let him leave Old Trafford.
Rangers might have to play in the bottom tier of Scottish football again next season if clubs choose a 12-12-18 structure for the game.
Scottish Football League chief executive David Longmuir hinted that the Ibrox club would not be fast-tracked into the second tier if agreement over reconstruction is reached in time to implement change for next season.
The Scottish Premier League and SFL have been in discussions over major change with Longmuir admitting over the weekend that SPL plans for a 12-team flight were looking more likely to be adopted than SFL proposals for a larger top league.
Rangers look set to tie up the Third Division title long before the end of the season to move to the third tier, but if changes are brought into force for next season they may have to play their current opponents again.
Longmuir told the Daily Record: "This isn't about one club. This is about what is best for all of Scottish football.
"People are getting ahead of themselves a little bit because no decisions have been taken with regards to how the new leagues would be made up.
"But if you look at the league tables as they stand today it doesn't take much imagination to work out how to make it happen.
"Yes, that might be disappointing for some clubs in the Second and Third divisions if it was to work out that way but then we are talking about the long-term good of the game here.
"If change is going to happen then inevitably there would have to be one season when adjustments would have to be made."
The changes would still mean Rangers could win promotion to the top flight by the start of season 2015-16, which is the earliest they can do so under the current set-up.
