Juventus top four hopes suffer in surprise loss to dynamic Fiorentina

Juventus started the day leading by one point over fifth place and since Fiorentina had already ensured safety they looked like perfect opponents.

Yet the match was mostly stop start during a dull first thirty minutes with one foul especially rousing the home crowd as Dusan Vlahovic seemed to go down under pressure from Marin Pongracic just before Roberto Piccoli charged the opposite way and had a shot stopped.

The opening goal seemed likely for Juventus after twenty minutes but for David de Gea quick reactions as he sped from his goal to thwart Vlahovic following a poor backpass by Cher Ndour.

Yet Ndour made amends near half time as a swift counter allowed Manor Solomon to feed him for a perfectly timed run before he entered the box and found the far corner from a tight angle.

Juventus could not reply before the break and with their unbeaten home record against sides starting the round outside the top six at risk Jeremie Boga came on for Teun Koopmeiners to add attacking drive.

However the change had limited effect even though Weston McKennie and Francisco Conceicao both forced saves from De Gea. Juventus position worsened as Milan and Como scored elsewhere leaving them in fifth at the sixty minute mark.

With the Allianz Stadium searching for a saviour Vlahovic looked to have levelled just after seventy five minutes only for VAR to rule the near post finish offside after a cross back.

Juventus composure faded fast and Fiorentina claimed the win in the eighty third minute when the home side failed to clear a Viola free kick so Rolando Mandragora could curl a fine effort into the top left corner past Michele Di Gregorio.

Juventus had no way back and they know how big a chance was lost. They must now win away to Torino to keep top four hopes alive.

Even then much will depend on others while Fiorentina can enjoy a fourth straight unbeaten head to head.