Juventus claimed a crucial 1-0 victory at Lecce, with Dušan Vlahović's lightning-quick opener in the first minute proving decisive in the Serie A battle.
Juventus arrived at the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del Mare in strong form, sitting fourth in the table with 65 points from 35 matches. Lecce, meanwhile, occupied 17th place with just 32 points and desperately needed points to boost their survival hopes. The hosts had won their last match but remained in a precarious position. Juventus came into the game on the back of three consecutive wins.
The match exploded into life almost immediately. Vlahović struck in the opening minute, catching Lecce's defense completely off guard. The Serbian striker's early goal gave Juventus complete control of proceedings from the start. Lecce faced an uphill battle from the very first whistle.
Despite falling behind so early, Lecce showed resilience and determination. The hosts created chances throughout the opening 45 minutes, with eight total shots attempted. However, their efforts lacked precision, with only three shots finding the target. Juventus dominated possession, controlling 65 percent of the ball and restricting Lecce to just 35 percent.
Juventus pressed forward relentlessly. The visitors fired 15 total shots across the match, with six on target. Their expected goals figure of 2.16 reflected their attacking superiority. Lecce's goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone made five crucial saves to keep the deficit at just one goal.
The first half saw Juventus create a fortress in midfield. Manuel Locatelli controlled play with composure, while Andrea Cambiaso provided attacking thrust down the left flank. Lecce struggled to build any sustained pressure against such organized opponents.
Into the second half, Lecce pushed for an equalizer but found Juventus's defense resolute. Michele Di Gregorio, Juventus's goalkeeper, made three important saves to maintain the clean sheet. Lloyd Kelly and the Juventus backline stood firm against repeated Lecce attacks.
In the 80th minute, Fabio Conceicao received a yellow card for Juventus. Shortly after, in the 82nd minute, Lecce's Gianluigi Jean also saw yellow. The cards reflected the growing intensity as Lecce desperately searched for a breakthrough.
Lecce's attacking efforts intensified but lacked the final touch needed. They managed one corner kick compared to Juventus's seven. The visitors' superior passing accuracy of 86 percent versus Lecce's 73 percent showed their control of the game's rhythm.
Vlahović was withdrawn in the 77th minute after his brilliant opening contribution. His early strike proved enough to secure three vital points for Juventus. The striker's quick thinking and finishing quality made the difference on the night.
Juventus's victory moves them closer to the top four finish. Lecce's defeat leaves them battling against relegation, now sitting 17th with 32 points from 36 matches. The gap between these sides reflects the quality difference shown across the 90 minutes.
Juventus travel next seeking to maintain their push for European qualification. Lecce must regroup quickly and find a way to climb away from the relegation zone as the season enters its final stages.
