Massimo Donati strike sinks Juventus

First-half substitute Massimo Donati struck the only goal of the game, pouncing on poor play by Claudio Marchisio just outside the area to belt a superb 20-yard left-footed effort high beyond Storari's despairing dive.

It was a bad start to league action for Juve, who had recorded four wins out of four in their Europa League fixtures since Luigi Del Neri took charge in the summer. Last week's signings Milos Krasic and Fabio Quagliarella were among five starting debutants.

For Bari meanwhile, the result is an early boost after the disappointment of losing their first choice centre-half pairing of Leonardo Bonucci (to the visitors) and Andrea Ranocchia this summer after the expiry of their loan deals in Apulia.

Juventus had actually started well, contributing a great deal of energy to the game, with Giorgio Chiellini and Quagliarella both coming close, but it was the home side who settled the better for most of the opening period.

Giampiero Ventura was struck a blow just 15 minutes in when Alessandro Gazzi was forced off due to a knock to the head following a clash with Felipe Melo. Massimo Donati replaced him in a like-for-like swap, and after Abdelkader Ghezzal and Edgar Alvarez had both had great chances to break the deadlock, it was Donati who struck home.

Marchisio failed to take control of the ball just outside his own area and the former Celtic man showed too much strength for him before unleashing a left-foot drive high into the far corner, giving Marco Storari no chance.

Bari began to make more and more chances in the second-half, with Donati, Alvarez and Edgar Barreto all coming close. At the other end substitute Jorge Martinez shot from 25 yards, while Quagliarella claimed to have been baulked by Salvatore Masiello as he slid in to meet Chiellini's cross.

The Biancorossi will take their new found confidence to Napoli in two weeks' time, while Juventus now have a vital game at home to Sampdoria when their players regroup after the international break.

Source: goal.com