The Bianconeri gets a huge boost in the Serie A points table

The 36-time Italian Champions Juventus managed to have a 15-point suspension overturned on Thursday, lifting the historic Italian club to third place in Serie A and igniting the race for tickets to the next Champions League.

After a three-hour hearing the day before, the case was remitted back to the Italian Federation’s court of appeal, with Juventus recouping the points pending a new trial. Such a trial is unlikely to be completed before the current season ends, so any penalties will have to be applied in the following season.

The Bianconeri climbed from seventh in the league to third, two points behind second-placed Lazio and three above fourth-placed Roma in a close bid for Champions League places. Reigning champions AC Milan dropped out of the top four, two points clear of classic rivals Inter. The two clubs from the city of Milan will meet in the Champions League semifinals next month.

Juve received a heavy points deduction in January for false accounting. Several leaders who were part of his previous board of directors were banned from participating in soccer-related activities, including former president Andrea Agnelli. The Turin club denied any wrongdoing and appealed to Italy's highest sports court within the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

Several of the suspensions were upheld, including that of Agnelli and that of Fabio Paratici, sports director of Premier League Tottenham. However, Pavel Nedvěd was one of six former managers who managed to have their appeals accepted. The Old Lady board of directors resigned as a whole in November following an investigation by the Turin prosecutor's office into alleged false accounting.

The sports trial for the case had to be reopened upon receiving the information provided by the prosecutors and the removal of points was announced. A preliminary hearing in a Turin court last month was postponed until May 10 for administrative reasons.

Juventus, Agnelli and 11 other individuals face charges for presenting false information by a company listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, obstructing the work of control bodies, issuing invoices for non-existent operations and market manipulation.

Juventus sets to face 6-time UEL Champions Sevilla in the Europa League semifinal on 11th May at home and the away fixture to take place on 18th May.