Juventus drop first points of season

ROME (AFP) –

Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci (L) and teammate Stephan Lichtsteiner of Switzerland acknowledge fans at the end of the Serie A football match between Juventus and Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence. Italian champions Juventus extended their unbeaten Serie A run to 44 games on Tuesday but dropped points for the first time this season as they drew 0-0 away at Fiorentina.

Italian champions Juventus extended their unbeaten Serie A run to 44 games on Tuesday but dropped points for the first time this season as they drew 0-0 away at Fiorentina.

‘The Old Lady of Turin’ – who went through the whole of last season unbeaten – could be joined on 13 points should closest challengers Napoli beat third-placed Lazio on Wednesday.

Juventus legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said that both sides had been tired after playing at the weekend.

“Fiorentina were good, they have a good coach and a playing system they believe in,” he said.

“I would say that it is a good point we have got here, it is a good sign, as we clearly suffered. We allowed them three or four chances like all the teams who come here but we didn’t concede a goal.”

Vincenzo Montella, the former Italian international striker and now coach of Fiorentina, said that he was frustrated at not taking all three points but was happy because it showed the team was making progress.

“I congratulate the players, we were Juve’s equals, with lots of new players who have only had around 15 training sessions with the rest of the squad.

“It is imperative we continue along the same path, it gives us hope.”

Fiorentina, who have still not beaten Juve at home since 1998, had their chances to take the points especially in the first-half first through star player Stevan Jovetic, the Montenegrin heading against the bar four minutes from the break.

His Serbian team-mate Adem Ljajic should have done better a minutes later having escaped the Juve defence only to be outsmarted by Buffon.

The hosts also had the better of the second-half, with the Juve front two failing to fire and Andrea Pirlo as little out of sorts with his usually pinpoint passing.

Fiorentina’s Argentinian defender Sebastian Roncaglia put a shot just wide in the 53rd minute and a good effort by skipper Manuel Pasqual nine minutes from time went along the goalline without crossing it.