Serie A 2024-25: Juventus drops more points in 1-1 draw with Torino as both coaches see red

Serie A 2024-25: Juventus drops more points in 1-1 draw with Torino as both coaches see red

Juventus was held to a 1-1 draw at Torino in Serie A on Saturday after Nikola Vlasic cancelled out Juve’s early opener by Kenan Yildiz in a heated derby clash that saw both coaches sent off after the break.

Yildiz put Juventus in front in the eighth minute with a low shot from outside the box before Vlasic levelled for the host in first-half stoppage time with a powerful strike that went in after rattling the post.

Coaches Paolo Vanoli and Thiago Motta were sent off early in the second half after both benches protested when Juventus defender Nicolo Savona brought down Yann Karamoh just outside Juve’s box.

Juventus, which is the only side yet to lose a Serie A game this campaign, is fifth in the standings on 33 points from 19 matches, but has dropped points in six of its last seven league outings.

Juventus suffered its second defeat of the season across all competitions last week, losing 2-1 against AC Milan in the semifinals of the Italian Super Cup. Its only other loss came in October, when it was beaten 1-0 by VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League.

A depleted Juventus travelled to city rival Torino without striker Dusan Vlahovic, sidelined with a muscle issue, while Manuel Locatelli was suspended.

Things started off well for the visitor though with an early goal from Yildiz, who dribbled past the Torino defence and surprised goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic with a shot that went in off the right post. The 19-year-old Turkey forward has also found the net when the sides met in the league in November.

Nico Gonzalez thought he had doubled their advantage in the 21st minute but his effort was ruled out for offside, while Federico Gatti’s header narrowly missed the target 10 minutes later.

But Torino gained in confidence as the half wore on and Vlasic equalised just before the break. The Croatia midfielder controlled the ball on the edge of the box and fired Torino’s first goal against Juventus in four games.

The goal gave the home fans hope but was not enough to earn Torino a first success in the Derby della Mole since April 2015.

Juventus faces a tough run of fixtures later this month, starting with a visit to second-placed Atalanta on Tuesday before it hosts AC Milan next Saturday.

It then travels to Club Brugge in the Champions League on January 21 before its final league phase fixture at home against Benfica on January 29, either side of its Serie A visit to leader Napoli.

Torino, which is 11th with 22 points, next visits sixth-placed Fiorentina on January 19.