The Artemio Franchi stadium welcomed Juventus in Florence for the first 3pm kick-off of the new season. Leandro Paredes made his debut, Arek Milik his first start, and it was the striker that pounced on nine minutes to give the Bianconeri an early breakthrough, cancelled out 20 minutes later by Chrisitan Kouamé’s equaliser.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Mattia Perin deflected a Luka Jović penalty onto the post as the opening 45 minutes finished 1-1. Again Perin was called on in the closing minutes, with a spectacular save with just two minutes to play to ensure a share of the points.
AREK WITH THE OPENER
Massimiliano Allegri fielded five summer arrivals in Florence as Leandro Paredes was thrown straight into the mix after his midweek arrival. The midfielder joined Bremer, Filip Kostić, Ángel Di María and Arek Milik in the starting XI, and three of these players combined in the move that opened the scoring. Di María found Manuel Locatelli who released Juan Cuadrado down the right. The captain’s cross was met by Kostić, whose volley was turned into the net by Milik from close range.
CAUGHT ON THE COUNTER
Despite conceding that early goal Fiorentina did not lose their composure and set about searching for the equaliser, which arrived with their third effort on target. Perin had dealt with Christian Kouamé’s and Dodò’s earlier efforts but was beaten by the same Kouamé when the winger raced in on goal from a counter attack.
PERIN ON THE SPOT
Perin’s involvement in the first half was far from over, however. A handball inside the penalty area by Paredes was identified by VAR and the referee awarded the home team a penalty.
Luka Jović, who hadn’t scored since the opening day in Serie A, stepped up and hit his shot low to Perin’s right. The goalkeeper chose the right corner, and managed to deflect the ball with his forearm onto the post. The rebound went across the line before being cleared by the Juve defence.
VIOLA ON FRONT FOOT
After the restart it was the home team that continued to press, without ever creating any clear scoring chances, in part due to some outstanding defending from Danilo, once again at ease at the heart of the defence alongside Bremer.
For their part, Juventus, who had already replaced Di María with Mattia De Sciglio at the start of the second half, made four more changes - including the return to action of Leonardo Bonucci - in the remainder of the second period without ever finding their stride.
In fact, it took another spectacular save from Perin to keep the teams level. With just two minutes remaining, Sofyan Amrabat unleashed a swerving shot from the edge of the box, which Perin at full stretch tipped over the crossbar.
Juventus remain unbeaten, but a third draw from five takes their points tally in the league to nine.
FIORENTINA 1-1 JUVENTUS (HT: 1-1)
Scorers: 9’ Milik (J), 29’ Kouamé (F)
FIORENTINA: Terracciano; Dodo, Milenkovic (54′ Martinez Quarta), Igor, Biraghi; Maleh (62′ Mandragora), Amrabat, Barak (84′ Zurkowski); Kouame (62′ Ikoné), Jovic (84′ Cabral), Sottil.
Subs not used: Cerofolini, Gollini, Terzic, Ranieri, Venuti, Bianco, Saponara, N. Gonzalez.
Coach: Italiano.
JUVENTUS: Perin; Cuadrado (64′ Miretti), Danilo, Bremer, Alex Sandro (78′ Bonucci); McKennie, Paredes (83′ Fagioli), Locatelli; Di Maria (46′ De Sciglio), Milik, Kostic (64′ Kean).
Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Garofani, Gatti, Rugani, Vlahovic, Soulé.
Coach: Allegri.
REFEREE: Doveri.
ASSISTANTS:Alassio, Tegoni.
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Ayroldi.
VAR: Aureliano, Mondin.
BOOKINGS: 15’ Amrabat (F), 33’ Alex Sando (J), 52’ Locatelli (J), 53’ Danilo (J)