In a dismal turn of events for Juventus, they slipped to another heavy defeat, this time a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Fiorentina at the Franchi. Following a 4-0 thrashing by Atalanta just the week before, the Old Lady finds herself tumbling down the table, now fifth and out of the Champions League places—a far cry from the lofty ambitions they had for this season.
The pressure is mounting on manager Thiago Motta, who faced the media post-match with sporting director Giuntoli, both emphasizing their commitment to the club's long-term project. "We must navigate through this together," said Giuntoli, noting the urgent need for introspection rather than knee-jerk reactions.
However, the manner of this latest capitulation is hard to swallow. The players seem to have lost their way, following a disheartening exit from the Champions League and a Cup defeat to Empoli. To compound matters, Cambiaso had to leave the pitch early due to injury. In stark contrast, Fiorentina exuded confidence, revitalised after their recent qualification for the Conference League quarters, mirroring their impressive eight-match winning run from earlier in the season.
They were relentless, with fans creating a raucous atmosphere that resonated throughout. Gosens opened the scoring with a powerful header from a corner on 15 minutes, followed shortly after by Mandragora, who doubled the lead with a precise strike from Fagioli's assist. Juventus struggled to get a foothold, failing to register a single shot on target throughout the match.
As the second half began, the Viola continued to apply the pressure, with Gudmundsson adding a third shortly after the interval, further sinking the beleaguered Juve side. Kean had an effort ruled out for offside, and though Motta's changes tried to instil some life into the squad, they were well and truly outclassed in every department, with Vlahovic remaining an unused substitute against his former club.
The match was preceded by a poignant minute's silence for Joe Barone, the club's late director general, in the presence of family and former players like Batistuta. The home crowd's choreography against Juventus played out beautifully, while their team delivered a performance to celebrate.
