Hoping to extend their one-sided home record after registering eight victories in their last nine meetings, Juventus found themselves more involved with referee Michael Fabbri than in the final third, as Adrien Rabiot went into the book within the 120 seconds, while Angel Di Maria was lucky to escape without a caution for an act of dissent.
Fiorentina began encouragingly at the Allianz Stadium as Wojciech Szczesny had to remain alert to any impending danger in the Juve goal.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side had the first sight on target in the 24th minute as Pietro Terracciano assertively pushed out Filip Kostic’s fearsome strike for a corner.
However, the Bianconeri were ahead in the 34th minute when Rabiot’s back-post header crept over the goal line, despite the best efforts of Terracciano before the two sides made their separate ways down the Allianz Stadium tunnel at the break.
With only league-leaders SSC Napoli and second-placed Inter Milan registering more SA victories this season, Juventus thought they had taken another step closer to a 13th success.
However, VAR came to the visitors’ rescue, disallowing Dušan Vlahović’s one-on-one effort after deciding the former Fiorentina attacker had strayed marginally offside.
Determined to kill off the contest, Vlahovic’s replacement from the substitutes’ bench, Moise Kean, was next to come close for Allegri’s side, only for the Italian international to be denied by a sublime save from Terracciano.
Juventus then survived a late scare when Gaetano Castrovilli’s exquisite volley was disallowed due to offside in the build-up.
Victory moves Juventus to within 10 points of the intensely-competitive Serie A European qualification positions. Meanwhile, La Viola will hope results pick up sooner rather than later after failing to register a victory in their last five SA matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Adrien Rabiot (Juventus)