Dusan Vlahovic was held at bay by old club Fiorentina, but Juventus won the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final in a thrilling late 1-0 victory.
The Serbian icon was repeatedly whistled by a loud home crowd when he returned to Florence following his January transfer for an initial cost of €70 million.
Fiorentina were the stronger side throughout a frenetic match, and they would have taken a lead into the second leg in Turin had Jonathan Ikone not squandered a pair of gilt-edged chances.
They were ultimately made to pay for their profligacy in stoppage time when Juan Cuadrado’s wicked right-wing delivery cannoned off an unfortunate Lorenzo Venuti and over the line to give Juve the advantage going into next month’s return leg in Turin.
Fiorentina dominated possession in a high-intensity first half and should have made that control count when Ikone burst down the right, only to fire narrowly wide of the left-hand post in the 26th minute.
Three minutes into the second half any lingering frustration Ikone felt would have been heightened as he curled against the frame of the goal after being played through by a delicate throughball from Lucas Torreira.
The hosts continued to pepper the Juve goal, but were almost caught cold by Vlahovic, who latched on to Mattia De Sciglio’s ball and attempted to break the deadlock with a lofted finish to which Pietro Terracciano was equal.
Cristiano Biraghi tested Mattia Perrin with a free-kick from just outside the box and Venuti went close with a long-range drive.
Instead of finding a deserved opener for Fiorentina, Venuti was inconsolable at full-time after inadvertently giving his team’s hated rivals the edge in the 91st minute, putting Juve in the driver’s seat for a place in the final.
What does it mean? – Happy return for Vlahovic
Vlahovic did not rise to the occasion against his old employers but, as they have done so often in the past, Juve found a way to get the job done.
They will be favourites to reach the final from here and, with their gap to Serie A leaders Napoli now just seven points, hopes will be increasing that the Bianconeri could yet resume their dominance of Italian football under Massimiliano Allegri this season.
Fiorentina fail to make pressure count
The hosts crafted far the better opportunities in the contest, as evidenced by their 1.4 Expected Goals to Juve’s 0.34, but their lack of accuracy ultimately cost them what would have been a famous win in the circumstances.
Vlahovic largely missing in action
Vlahovic had just 36 touches, the lowest of any Juve player to start and finish the game, with only two of those coming in the opposition box. In a game where he was supposed to be the headline act, he was predominantly conspicuous by his absence.
Key Opta Stats: Juve runs continue
– In Coppa Italia semi-final first legs, Juventus have won five of their last six games, drawing the other.
– Juve have also kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven semi-final games in the Coppa Italia.
– Fiorentina did not score in a Coppa home match for their first time since December 2015, against Carpi (a 1-0 defeat).
– Perin made six saves this match, his most in a single game for Juventus across all competitions.
– Juventus won the match despite not attempting their first shot until the 43rd minute.
What’s next?
Juve host Spezia on Sunday, when Fiorentina welcome Verona to the Artemio Franchi in a game between two teams chasing European football.
