Juventus and Fiorentina played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena, a result that leaves both teams stuck in mid-table mediocrity as they continue their pursuit of a top-four finish in Serie A. Despite two well-taken goals from Juventus’ Khephren Thuram and a dramatic equalizer from Fiorentina's Riccardo Sottil in the dying minutes, neither side could find the vital win they were hoping for. The result means both teams remain tied on 32 points, with Fiorentina holding onto fifth place, just ahead of Juventus in sixth.
The match began with Juventus looking the more dangerous side, dominating possession and creating the better chances. Their early pressure paid off in the 20th minute when Khephren Thuram opened the scoring with his first Serie A goal. The Frenchman embarked on a solo run from midfield, cutting past a few defenders before finishing with precision past Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea, putting Juventus 1-0 up.
However, Fiorentina responded swiftly. Just 10 minutes later, former Juventus striker Moise Kean equalized for the visitors, nodding in a cross from the left wing. The goal was his 11th of the season, and it was a reminder of the danger Kean still poses, despite his departure from Juventus. His header sent the teams into the break at 1-1, with both sides eager to push for a winner in the second half.
The second half was equally compelling, with both sides showing determination. Juventus regained the lead shortly after the restart when Thuram doubled his tally. In the 47th minute, the Frenchman was in the right place at the right time to tap in a rebound after Fiorentina goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio had saved a previous effort. It was a scrappy goal, but it gave Juventus a 2-1 advantage, and it seemed like they would finally secure the three points.
But Fiorentina wasn’t done. With time running out, they pushed forward in search of another equalizer, and they were rewarded with just three minutes to spare. In the 87th minute, Riccardo Sottil scored a dramatic goal to level the match once more. The goal came following a fortunate deflection in the penalty box, with the ball falling to Sottil, who hammered it past Di Gregorio at the near post to make it 2-2. The Allianz Arena was stunned, and Fiorentina had snatched a vital point.
The late equalizer was a bitter blow for Juventus, who seemed on the brink of moving up the table with a win. However, their inability to convert their dominance into a full three points continues to be a problem. Despite remaining unbeaten in Serie A this season, Juventus’ numerous draws have cost them dearly in the race for the Scudetto. This match marked their 11th draw out of 18 league matches, setting a new record for draws at this stage in the season for both Juventus and across Europe’s top five leagues. The team’s lack of clinical finishing and inability to put teams away has been a constant issue in their campaign.
The 2-2 draw also left Juventus with more frustration as they set another unwanted record for Serie A. With 21 draws in the league in 2024, they now have more draws than any other Serie A team in a single calendar year. The only other team to have recorded more draws in a single season in Europe’s top five leagues was Perugia, who managed 22 in 1979.
For Fiorentina, the result was another step in their push for a top-half finish, although it didn’t do much to move them closer to the top four. Moise Kean’s goal was significant, as it marked the second time in Serie A that an Italian player had scored over 10 goals in a season for Fiorentina, with the first being Federico Bernardeschi during the 2016-17 season.
Both teams will now be left to reflect on the points dropped, as Juventus will be disappointed to not have seized the opportunity to move up the table, and Fiorentina will feel that they could have done more with the chances they created. Juventus will need to find a way to turn these draws into wins if they are to remain in the race for a top-four finish and secure European football for next season, while Fiorentina will continue their pursuit of the top spots with a much-needed point. The Serie A season is far from over, and both teams will be hoping to end the year on a high note.
