Defending champs Juve settle for uninspiring point at Fiorentina
FLORENCE, Italy --
Juventus' march to a fourth successive title was halted on Friday as it was held to a goalless draw at fierce rival Fiorentina in Serie A.
Four of those wins had come in Serie A for the league leaders but they never looked like extending that sequence with chances few and far between at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Juan Cuadrado looked the most likely player to break the deadlock for the home side but it was not to be as Fiorentina made it five games unbeaten.
Fiorentina made the livelier start, with Cuadrado seeing an effort blocked after a smart set-piece, but it was Juventus who had the best chance of the first half moments later. The Frenchman cut in from the left and fought off the challenge of two defenders before firing a shot from the edge of the box that went just over the bar.
The home side, who were having the better of the possession but failing to do much with it, had a penalty appeal turned down when Matias Fernandez whipped in a free-kick and it looked to hit the arm of Fernando Llorente but the referee waved play on. Moments later the lively Cuadrado was at it again as he advanced towards the box and unleashed a shot but it took a huge deflection off Leonardo Bonucci and went behind for a corner.
A flurry of bookings for niggly fouls followed as the game threatened to boil over, with both sides clearly frustrated. Another Fernandez free-kick handed Borja Valero a chance to score as Gonzalo Rodriguez did well to keep the set-piece in play with an overhead kick, but the midfielder could not find the target.
Juventus had the better of the opening stages of the second half but chances were still at a premium with Patrice Evra and Bonucci the only men to test Neto before the hour mark. Andrea Pirlo then saw a shot blocked away but it was Cuadrado who looked the most likely to break the deadlock and he brought a smart save from Gianluigi Buffon with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.
The Colombian went off with a knock five minutes from the end and both sides seemed content with a point as the game drew to a close.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
