Fiorentina Thrash Juventus 3-0, Increasing Pressure on Motta

Juventus suffered a second consecutive heavy defeat in Serie A, losing 3-0 to Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday. The result intensifies the pressure on manager Thiago Motta and further damages Juventus’ hopes of securing a Champions League qualification spot.

The loss follows a 4-0 defeat to Atalanta last weekend and comes after Juventus’ elimination from both the Champions League (to PSV Eindhoven) and the Coppa Italia (to Empoli). They also lost January’s Supercoppa Italiana.

Fiorentina, who had lost four of their previous five league matches, dominated the first half. Robin Gosens opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Juventus defender Renato Veiga blocked his initial header from a corner, but Khephren Thuram deflected in Gosens’ follow-up shot.

Nicolo Fagioli, on loan at Fiorentina from Juventus, then set up Rolando Mandragora to double the lead just three minutes later. Mandragora scored with a first-time shot from outside the area, finding the bottom corner.

Juventus failed to register a shot on target in the first half, struggling to create clear-cut opportunities.

The visitors began the second half with more attacking intent, but Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea easily gathered Veiga’s weak header. Fiorentina extended their lead in the 53rd minute. After receiving a pass from Fagioli, Albert Gudmundsson had ample space to advance and drill a shot from outside the box into the bottom corner.

Former Juventus forward Moise Kean had a goal disallowed for offside as Fiorentina threatened to run riot.

The home fans, enjoying a comprehensive victory over their fierce rivals, taunted Juventus with chants of “Where is Dusan?” referring to former Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic, who remained an unused substitute.

The defeat leaves Juventus in fifth place with 52 points, one point behind fourth-placed Bologna, who thrashed Lazio 5-0 earlier on Sunday. Fiorentina’s win lifts them to eighth place on 48 points, one ahead of AC Milan. Juventus’ only remaining objective this season is to secure a Champions League spot, a task that appears increasingly challenging given their recent form.