A goal from Dušan Vlahovic just 12 seconds into the match secured Juventus a 1-0 win over Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare.
The Serbian striker opened the scoring almost immediately after kickoff, capitalizing on a defensive error. Andrea Cambiaso delivered a cross from the left, Jamil Siebert misjudged his headed clearance, and Vlahovic, unmarked in the box, controlled the ball and fired low under the crossbar. The early strike set the tone for a match where Juventus aimed to solidify their hold on fourth place, while Lecce fought to secure their Serie A survival.
The game began at a frantic pace. Minutes after the goal, Walid Cheddira had a chance to equalize, but Michele Di Gregorio made a crucial save. At the other end, Francisco Conceição hit the post, and Vlahovic nearly added a second with a low shot that Wladimiro Falcone managed to deflect. Juventus controlled possession and created several chances, but Lecce grew into the match as the first half progressed. Santiago Pierotti and Lameck Banda caused problems for the Juventus defense, forcing center-backs Gleison Bremer and Manuel Locatelli to work hard.
Early in the second half, Vlahovic thought he had doubled the lead, but VAR ruled it out for a marginal offside. Shortly after, another Juventus goal—scored by Pierre Kalulu—was disallowed due to Vlahovic’s minimal interference in the buildup. Lecce pushed for an equalizer, with Pierotti setting up Cheddira for a clear chance that the Moroccan striker squandered, and later N’Dri fired wide after a defensive lapse from Juventus. Pierotti tested Di Gregorio with a long-range effort, but the goalkeeper dealt with it unconventionally but effectively.
As the match entered its final stages, Juventus slowed the tempo, focusing on maintaining possession. Conceição received the first yellow card for a midfield foul, and Vlahovic was substituted for Holm, leaving Juventus without a pure striker. However, coach Luciano Spalletti’s priority was to secure the three points, ensuring his team moved momentarily above AC Milan into third place.
Flashscore Player of the Match: Dušan Vlahovic (Juventus).