Gonzalo Higuain ensures that Juventus start their Scudetto defence with a win over bitter rivals Fiorentina.
Sami Khedira had given Juve a first half lead, before Nikola Kalinic drew La Viola level with twenty minutes remaining. The $97 million man then stole in at the back post to grab a late winner on his competitive debut and give his new club a 2-1 win at the J Stadium.
The defending champions wholly dominated the opening exchanges through intense pressing in the final third. This tactic almost paid dividends inside fourth minute, when pressure from Paolo Dybala inside the penalty cause Ciprian Tatarusanu to fluff an attempted pass out of defence.
The poor clearance from the Romanian goalkeeper was pounced upon by Sami Khedira on the edge of the penalty area; however Tatarusanu was spared his blushes when the German international curled the ball just over the crossbar.
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With Paul Pogba leaving the club for a world record fee, Kwadwo Asamoah was tasked with filling the void he left tonight and did so admirably. Asamoah came close to opening the scoring on the 20th minute mark after being found on the left hand side of the penalty area by Dybala. His subsequent left footed effort on goal however, flew into the Curva Sud.
Khedira gives Juventus the lead
Juventus deservedly took the lead in the 36th minute through Sami Khedira. The German international rose highest in the centre of the penalty area from a Giorgio Chiellini cross, before powering the ball past Tatarunsanu and into the back of the net.
At the end of the first half, Alex Sandro almost doubled the home side’s advantage. After being played through by Mario Mandzukic on the left hand side the penalty area, Sandro controlled the ball before rifling narrowly wide of Tatarusanu’s left post.
The tempo of the game dropped off slightly at the beginning of the second half, with Max Allegri’s men opting for slower movements forward into the final third. The slower tempo allowed Fiorentina to begin finally find their way in the Juve half with more regularity.
Despite being on the back foot for the majority of the game, in the 70th minute La Viola grabbed a shock equaliser. A wonderful curling corner kick from Josip Ilicic was headed into the bottom left hand corner of the net by an unmarked Nikola Kalinic at the back post.
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“Pipita” scores the winner
Moments later, Juventus’ record signing, Gonzalo Higuain, re-instated the home side’s lead on his competitive debut. After Khedira saw his left footed effort on goal from the edge of the penalty area blocked by Gonzalo Rodriguez, “Pipita” raced into the six-yard box to pounce on the loose ball and side foot into the bottom left corner.
With ten minutes remaining, Lemina almost made the home side’s lead insurmountable. The young French midfielder’s venomous right footed volley from fully 25-yards was however, tipped just wide of the post by Tatarusanu.
Juventus will travel to Rome to face Lazio next week; while Fiorentina will hope to kick-start their season with a win over Chievo Verona.