Juventus picks up first points with 1-1 draw against Chievo

Juventus picks up first points with 1-1 draw against Chievo

Published Sep. 12, 2015 2:07 p.m. ET

MILAN (AP) Juventus picked up its first point in the Serie A as a late penalty helped the four-time defending champion rescue a 1-1 draw against surprise front-runner Chievo Verona on Saturday.

Paulo Dybala converted the disputed spot kick, called after Juan Cuadrado was tripped by Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar.

''We conceded a goal that we could have defended better,'' Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. ''After the goal the team played well. It's not a fortunate time for us but I don't have anything to reproach the lads about.

''Between the transfer window and the international break I only had the whole squad available from Thursday. No one expected Juve to have only one point after three matches, but there are also positive aspects.''

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Perparim Hetemaj got Chievo on the board after just five minutes. Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon pulled off a fantastic save to deny Cesar, who also had a goal ruled out.

Chievo lost its 100 percent record but remained on top, above Roma on goal difference.

''There were two key incidents which could have been judged in a different way,'' Chievo coach Rolando Maran said.

Roma beat local rival Frosinone 2-0, while 10-man Fiorentina topped Genoa 1-0.

Fiorentina was a point below the top two, along with a number of teams including Inter Milan ahead of Sunday's eagerly anticipated Milan derby.

Juventus was still searching for its first point after its worst Serie A start but rested several players ahead of the Champions League trip to Manchester City on Tuesday.

Chievo took the lead quickly when Hetemaj was given time and space on the edge of the area to pick his spot and fired into the far corner.

Hernanes was making his debut for Juventus, following his move from Inter Milan, and he almost levelled but was denied by a fantastic stop from Albano Bizzarri.

Juventus was jeered off the pitch at halftime and Buffon went behind his goal to ask the fans to support the players.

Chievo almost doubled its advantage six minutes after the break but Buffon pulled off a fantastic save to palm Cesar's volley onto the upright.

Juventus should have leveled minutes later as Roberto Pereyra's effort came off the right post and halftime substitute Paul Pogba seemed certain to net the rebound but his shot was charged down by Nicolas Frey, and Dybala then blazed over.

In the end-to-end action, Chievo thought it extended its advantage in the 62nd but Cesar's strike was ruled out as he was adjudged to have pulled down Leonardo Bonucci, although both appeared to be tugging each other.

Chievo had further reason to be disgruntled with referee Marco Guida after he awarded Juventus a somewhat soft penalty. Cuadrado was running into the area and went down easily on a sliding challenge from Cesar.

Dybala fired into the top right corner.

Earlier, Roma captain Francesco Totti made his first appearance of the season, starting his 24th campaign with the Giallorossi.

Roma was brimming with confidence in the first edition of the local derby after beating Juventus, and broke the deadlock when Frosinone failed to clear a Lucas Digne throw-in and Iago Falque was able to bundle the ball in from the edge of the six-yard box.

It was the Spaniard's first goal for Roma since his move from Genoa in the offseason.

Alessandro Florenzi should have sealed the result six minutes from time but he hit the crossbar.

With Frosinone pouring forward, the home side was caught out by a classic counterattack. Mohamed Salah found Juan Iturbe, who sprinted downfield, feinted past Modibo Diakite, and fired emphatically past Nicola Leali.

In Florence, Giuseppe Rossi made his first start in 482 days as he returned from another knee injury.

Khouma Babacar headed home the winner for Fiorentina on the hour, rising highest at the back post to head Borja Valero's cross into the bottom left corner.

Fiorentina's joy didn't last long as Milan Badelj was sent off four minutes later following a needless second booking.

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