Juventus and Fiorentina faced off on December 29, 2024, at the Allianz Stadium, ending the intense Serie A clash with a thrilling 2-2 draw. Khéphren Thuram opened the scoring for the home side, netting two goals, but Fiorentina's resilience was exemplified by Moise Kean and Riccardo Sottil, who salvaged a point for their team.
The match kicked off with high energy, as Juventus looked to capitalize on their home advantage, pushing forward with confidence. It only took until the 20th minute for Thuram to strike first, with a fantastic run and shot past goalkeeper David De Gea, making it 1-0.
But the visitors were undeterred. Shortly before halftime, Kean, playing against his former club, equalized with a powerful header following a well-placed cross by Adrien Adli. Kean did not celebrate, showing respect to the Juventus fans, and prompted polite applause instead.
After the break, the momentum swings continued. Just minutes after the restart, Thuram doubled his tally with another composed finish, assisted expertly by Teun Koopmeiners, putting Juventus up 2-1 early in the second half.
Fiorentina's fighting spirit shone through once again as they pressed for another equalizer. Juventus appeared to be holding strong, but the Viola continued to create scoring chances. The tone of the match shifted late, with thrilling end-to-end action keeping both sets of fans on edge.
With time running out, Sottil emerged as the match hero for Fiorentina. He found the back of the net with just minutes remaining, firing home from close range after some chaotic moments inside the box. His celebration radiated joy and relief as he declared the goal to be possibly the most important of his career.
Reflecting on the match, Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino praised his team for their tenacity: "The approach was not the best, but coming back against Juventus twice is no small feat." On the other hand, Juventus manager Thiago Motta expressed frustration about not securing the win, stating, "Today we should have looked for the third goal and closed the match sooner."
The result leaves both teams locked on 32 points, sharing the fifth position. Juventus will need to reassess their strategies as they continue to seek consistency, particularly after registering their eleventh draw of the season.
This match is emblematic of the unpredictability of Serie A, showcasing skill, determination, and the chaotic nature of football where every second counts. The fans left the stadium buzzing, excitement palpable as they anticipated future encounters between these fierce rivals.