Juventus win controversial match against Fiorentina, Roma stages late comeback

Posted : 06 November 2023

Juventus continued their pursuit of Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fiorentina on Sunday, despite controversy surrounding the match's scheduling following deadly floods in Tuscany. Fabio Miretti's 10th-minute goal, his first for the club, secured the win for Massimiliano Allegri's side, who now sit just two points behind Inter.

In a classic Juventus performance under Allegri, the team relied on a solid defensive display, absorbing Fiorentina's relentless attacks and looking to capitalize on counter-attacks. The victory marked their sixth consecutive clean sheet in Serie A since conceding four goals against Sassuolo in late September. With no European commitments, Juventus appears to be Inter's most credible rivals for the Scudetto this season, with a crucial clash between the two sides scheduled after the international break.

The match took place amidst protests from a section of Fiorentina's hardcore fans and the mayor of Florence, who had both called for a postponement following the severe damage caused by Storm Ciaran in the region, which resulted in flooding and casualties. Fiorentina's ultras chose to assist in the cleanup efforts, and those who attended the Stadio Artemio Franchi observed a minute's silence for the flood victims before kickoff. Despite their efforts, Fiorentina couldn't overcome Miretti's early strike, leaving them in eighth place, level on 17 points with Roma.

Roma, managed by Jose Mourinho, staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Lecce 2-1. Pontus Almqvist had put Lecce in the lead in the 71st minute, but Iran's Sardar Azmoun leveled the score in the 91st minute with a powerful header, marking his first Serie A goal. Romelu Lukaku then sealed the win three minutes later with a fierce finish. Lukaku, who had missed a penalty early in the game, redeemed himself with the match-winning goal, celebrated by the home crowd.

Roma currently occupies the seventh position, just four points away from the Champions League spots and one point ahead of Lazio, who suffered a defeat against Bologna. The return of Paulo Dybala, who provided the assist for Lukaku's goal, further boosted Mourinho's optimism, as the Argentine forward showed signs of his quality after recovering from a knee ligament injury.

Cagliari climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over fellow promoted side Genoa. Claudio Ranieri's team now sits one point ahead of Verona, who are currently positioned just inside the relegation zone following a 3-1 defeat to Monza.

Juventus win controversial match against Fiorentina, Roma stages late comeback

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