Juventus squeeze past Fiorentina at home to keep momentum going

Juventus needed a first half strike from Adrien Rabiot to secure a 1-0 win and vital three points against Fiorentina at home.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side had the first sight on target in the 24th minute as Pietro Terracciano assertively pushed out Filip Kostić’s fearsome strike for a corner.

However, the Bianconeri were ahead in the 34th minute when Rabiot’s back-post header crept over the goal line, despite the best efforts of Terracciano before the two sides made their separate ways down the Allianz Stadium tunnel for half time.

With only league-leaders SSC Napoli and second-placed Inter Milan registering more Serie A victories this season, Juventus thought they had taken another step closer to a 13th win.

However, VAR came to the visitors’ rescue, disallowing Dusan Vlahović’s one-on-one effort after deciding the former Fiorentina attacker had strayed marginally offside.

Determined to kill off the contest, Vlahovic’s replacement from the substitutes bench, Moise Kean, was next to come close for Allegri’s side, only for the Italian international to be denied by a sublime save from Terracciano.

This victory moves Juventus to within 10 points of the intensely-competitive European qualification positions. Meanwhile, Fiorentina will hope results pick up sooner rather than later after failing to register a victory in their last five league matches.