Juventus climbed to second in Serie A with a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over Lecce.
Arkadiusz Milik’s 57th-minute goal enabled Juve, surprisingly beaten 4-2 by Sassuolo last time out, to return to winning ways and end Lecce’s unbeaten start to the season.
However, Massimiliano Allegri’s men were made to work hard for the win by the visitors, who went into the contest one place and one point above their opponents in the table.
The hosts had the first-half chances, although only one was a significant opening.
After Enrico Chiesa dragged a low right-foot shot wide from 20 yards in the 13th minute, Milik saw a long-range effort easily claimed by Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone eight minutes later.
The best opportunity of the opening half came in the 27th minute when Danilo found Chiesa but the Italy international’s left-foot shot from 10 yards went just wide of the far post.
Lecce continued to frustrate the hosts and – an Adrien Rabiot header from Nicolo Fagioli’s free-kick which was punched away by Falcone in the 41st minute apart – the hosts rarely threatened.
Pontus Almqvist tested the home defence with a couple of of strong runs early in the second half which came to nothing, before the home defence were put under pressure by Remi Oudin’s free-kick and Gabriel Strefezza’s corner.
Lecce boss Roberto D’Aversa was given a yellow card in the 56th minute for protesting about the award of a Juventus corner and a minute later the hosts made the decisive breakthrough.
Poland international striker Milik tapped home from close range after Rabiot had headed Weston McKennie’s cross goalwards. The effort was allowed to stand following a VAR check for offside.
Lecce, still seeking a first away success of the season following draws at Fiorentina and Monza, saw plenty of the ball in the closing quarter of the contest.
However, despite a glut of changes from both teams, 10 in the final 27 minutes of the contest, the visitors were unable to put significant pressure on the Juventus defence.
The visitors’ slim chances of an equaliser were not helped when Mohamed Kaba, a 70th-minute replacement, was harshly given a second yellow card for simulation in the third minute of added time.
The final whistle came four minutes later, signalling an end to Lecce’s five-match unbeaten record – the first time they had achieved such a feat in Serie A.
For Juve, a second win in three home matches moves them above their opponents and AC Milan, to within two points of pacesetters Inter.
Orlando City 0-0 Inter Miami: Messi-less Herons held by Florida rivals
MLS leaders Inter Miami were held to a 0-0 draw by state rivals Orlando City on Wednesday, as they failed to spark in Lionel Messi's absence.
Messi was missing from the squad due to a knee injury, and Miami were unable to extend their winning run to six MLS games without their superstar.
Indeed, other than a few Luis Suarez attempts, Orlando had the better of the chances at Inter&Co Stadium.
Yutaro Tsukada might have won it for Orlando on his debut, but the substitute sliced off target late on.
Miami are a point clear of FC Cincinnati at the top of the Eastern Conference, and Gerardo Martino will hope to have Messi back for the Herons' clash with D.C. United.
Data Debrief: Miami's unbeaten run rolls on
They may not have taken all three points, but Miami are now unbeaten in eight MLS matches. It is their longest unbeaten streak in the competition.
Orlando, meanwhile, have failed to score in five of their 12 games this term; no team has failed to do so more often in MLS.
Atalanta 0-1 Juventus: Vlahovic strike hands Bianconeri Coppa glory
An early strike from Dusan Vlahovic earned Juventus a 1-0 win over Atalanta in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday, as Massimiliano Allegri's side lifted their first trophy for three years.
Vlahovic put Juventus in front in the fourth minute when he latched onto a pass from Andrea Cambiaso and broke into the box, before driving his finish past goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.
The Serbia striker thought he had doubled Juve's lead in the 72nd minute when he nodded home from Cambiaso's cross, but that effort was disallowed for offside.
The Bianconeri had just 34 per cent of the possession and sat back for long periods, but Atalanta were unable to make their dominance of the ball count, failing to record a single shot on target from 13 attempts.
They will hope to fare better when they face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final later this month, having now lost three Coppa Italia finals under Gian Piero Gasperini.
Data Debrief: Juventus on top once more
The Coppa Italia is Juventus' competition. They hold the record for most finals played (22) and won (15), and have now lifted the trophy in six of the last 10 years.
Allegri, meanwhile, has now won the Coppa on five separate occasions, surpassing Sven-Goran Eriksson and Roberto Mancini to become the competition's most successful coach outright.
Milan striker Giroud to join LAFC
Olivier Giroud will join Los Angeles FC once his contract with Milan expires.
It was confirmed on Monday that Giroud would be leaving Milan to head to Major League Soccer.
And LAFC have now been revealed as the 37-year-old former Arsenal and Chelsea striker's destination.
Giroud has signed a one-year deal with LAFC, with the option to extend his stay through to 2026.
"His championship ambition and his qualities as a man and as a player directly align with ours as a club," LAFC general manager John Thorrington said.
Giroud, who has scored 14 Serie A goals this term, is France's record goalscorer, and is set to appear for Les Bleus at Euro 2024.
He will link up with his long-time international team-mate, Hugo Lloris, at LAFC.
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