05 November 2023
Juventus collected all three points against Fiorentina thanks to Fabio Miretti’s first goal in Serie A. The midfielder’s maiden strike, combined with an outstanding defensive performance, pushed Juve over the line for a fourth win on the spin as the Bianconeri emerged from the cauldron of the Artemio Franchi stadium with a sixth successive clean sheet.
The game’s only goal came on 10 minutes when Miretti met a Filip Kostic cross. The remainder of the match witnessed expert defending led by the back line of Federico Gatti, Bremer and Daniele Ruagni, and when called on Wojciech Sczcesny.
The victory keeps Juventus in the slipstream of leaders Inter.
THE MATCH
Massimiliano Allegri expressed his desire that Fabio Miretti develop an eye for goal in the pre-match press conference before the squad set off for Florence and the midfielder responded by making the coach’s wish come true just 10 minutes into the encounter at the Franchi.
Fiorentina had enjoyed the bulk of possession until that moment - and would continue to do so for the remainder of the match - but a Juve counter-attack driven by the thrust of Adrien Rabiot carved open the Viola defence. The stand-in captain rolled a pass into the path of Filip Kostic who quickly delivered his cross into the penalty area. Fabio Miretti timed his run to perfection to slot the ball under Pietro Terracciano.
It was the midfielder’s first goal in Serie A in his 43rd appearance.
Fiorentina, urged on by their vociferous support, responded but until the half-hour mark never seriously tested Wojciech Sczcesny despite a penetrating run by Nicolas Gonzalez, whose finish did not match the build up play on 23 minutes. Seven minutes later the Argentine tried a snapshot from the edge of the area, which Sczcesny smartly parried to safety.
In the closing stages of the opening period, the Viola upped the pressure, relying on set pieces. First Cristiano Biraghi’s curler from a free-kick brought out another impressive save from Sczcesny. The following corner saw Luca Ranieri unmarked inside the area but the defender flashed his header off target.
The foul that led to Biraghi’s free-kick was costly for Rabiot, who received the only booking of the first half, which will see him sit out next week’s match against Cagliari.
The second half followed the same script as the first, with the hosts seeing plenty of the ball, but creating very few clear cut chances. In fact, the first opportunities of the second period fell to Juve. First Moise Kean had a shot blocked before the striker played through Federico Chiesa, in an offside position and whose effort was saved by Terracciano.
Fiorentina turned to Giacomo Bonaventura for inspiration as home coach Vincenzo Italiano freshened up his attack. The veteran midfielder screwed two shots off target, the nearest Fiorentina came to testing Szczesny after the hour mark. On 74’ the keeper was called on to make a routine save from a Kouame shot from distance.
Four minutes later Rugani made a vital interception after Riccardo Sottil had found space behind the Juve rearguard. The winger’s cross seemed destined to be finished off by fellow substitute Joanthan Ikone before the recovery header by the faultless Rugani.
Fiorentina ran out of ideas and the final chances fell to Juve. Andrea Cambiaso almost made it back-to-back goals in stoppage time but his diving header was tipped wide by Terracciano.
Smiles greeted the final whistle in the Juve camp after an impressive team performance. The three points collected puts Juventus two points behind Inter and four ahead of third-placed Milan.
FIORENTINA 0-1 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-1)
Scorer: 10’ Miretti
FIORENTINA: Terracciano; Parisi, Ranieri (83′ Mina), Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Arthur (77′ Sottil), Mandragora; Gonzalez, Barak (59′ Bonaventura), Kouame (77′ Ikoné); Beltran (46′ Nzola). Subs not used: Martinelli, Christensen, Milenkovic, Maxime Lopez, Infantino, Duncan, Comuzzo, Amatucci, Brekalo. Coach: Italiano.
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Rugani; McKennie, Miretti (61′ Cambiaso), Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Kean (67′ Vlahovic), Chiesa (67′ Milik). Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Perin, Huijsen, Nicolussi Caviglia, Nonge, Yildiz, Iling-Junior. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Chiffi
Bookings: 43′ Rabiot, 47′ Kean, 57′ Gatti, 82′ Ranieri
