Juve held by Fiorentina ahead of PSG clash

Fiorentina’s Italian goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano (R) grabs the ball as Juventus’ Polish forward Arkadiusz Milik (L) looks on during the Italian Serie A football match between Fiorentina and Juventus on September 3, 2022 at the Artemio-Franchi stadium in Florence. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina on Saturday in another underwhelming Serie A display ahead of their trip to Paris Saint-Germain midweek.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side had the chance to go top temporarily of Italy’s top flight against fierce rivals Fiorentina but after taking an early lead through Arkadiusz Milik on his first Juve start they failed to earn the win.

Juventus sit fourth on nine points, just behind leaders Atalanta and level with third-placed Inter Milan, who face off with AC Milan in a bumper Saturday which closes with Lazio hosting Liverpool’s midweek opponents Napoli.

They can count themselves fortunate to have left Florence with a draw after Christian Kouame levelled midway through the first half and Mattia Perin saved Luka Jovic’s penalty just before the break.

A poor performance which featured just four shots is not a good omen for Juve heading into Tuesday’s Champions League Group H opener at PSG.

Milik has made a great start to his Juve career and turned in his second goal for the club since arriving last week with nine minutes on the clock.

The Poland forward added to his late strike against Spezia on Wednesday when he reacted quickly to the arrival of Filip Kostic’s stinging volley, meeting the ball with his chest and opening the scores.

Fiorentina responded and after a few half chances Kouame levelled the scores in the 29th minute by expertly finishing under Perin following a counter-attack launched