Serie A roundup: Juve held by furious Bologna, Lecce snatch draw at Fiorentina

Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw by Bologna in Serie A on Sunday after surviving a penalty controversy, while Lecce bounced back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Fiorentina.

Dusan Vlahovic earned disappointing Juve a point with a bullet header with 10 minutes remaining at the Allianz Stadium after Lewis Ferguson had put Bologna ahead midway through the first half.

But they were fortunate not to lose as referee Marco Di Bello decided not to award a spot-kick to Bologna after Dan Ndoye was brought down by Samuel Iling-Junior nine minutes before Vlahovic levelled.

It was a decision which so angered Bologna that it prompted a livid post-match reaction from the club's CEO Claudio Fenucci as coach Thiago Motta refused to talk to media.

"I've done this job for 25 years and I don't often go on TV to talk about referees," said Fenucci.

"The win was taken from us by an incredible refereeing decision... It's unthinkable that a challenge like that is not punished with a penalty and a red card."

It was an uninspiring display from Juve which poured cold water on the idea that they are back as league title contenders.

Massimiliano Allegri's side impressed at Udinese last weekend, not just with the win but with their aggressive, attacking style of play.

But on Sunday Juve were back to the stodgy ways of last season which so angered supporters.

Juve booed

Not even the return of Paul Pogba to midfield could inspire Juve to claim the three points, the France star doing little as a second half substitute as Juve huffed and puffed ineffectively.

Juve were booed off after a dismal first half which featured just one shot on target from the home side and none of the verve which characterised last weekend's win.

Bologna were the more dangerous side and were deservedly ahead in the 24th minute through Ferguson who slotted home a perfect low finish after being brilliantly slipped through by Joshua Zirkzee.

Dutch attacker Zirkzee was involved again when Ferguson came close to doubling the away side's lead, feeding the Scotland midfielder before another low effort grazed the upright.

Juve came out with more aggression after the break and Vlahovic soon thought he had equalised with a smart volleyed finish, only for it to be chalked off for Adrien Rabiot straying offside and blocking the view of Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.

But the match turned on the key penalty decision in the 71st minute.

Bologna coach Thiago Motta was booked and one of his assistants sent off as they looked on in disbelief after on-field and VAR officials allowed Iling-Junior to cut down Ndoye to stop him from tapping in from close range.

Worse for the away side was that the English winger supplied the cross from which Vlahovic headed Juve level with 10 minutes remaining, but they held out for a creditable point.

Lecce bounce back

Fiorentina looked set for a simple win in Florence when headers from Nicolas Gonzalez and Alfred Duncan had the hosts two goals to the good at half-time.

Lecce, who also came from behind to beat Lazio last weekend, pulled one back three minutes after half-time through a lovely curling finish from Hamza Rafia.

And Nikola Krstovic earned the away side a dramatic point when he evaded two Fiorentina centre backs to head home Lameck Banda's inswinging cross.

Vincenzo Italiano's Fiorentina now face the second leg of his team's Conference League play-off with Rapid Vienna on Thursday with the Tuscans trailing by a single goal.

Napoli see off Sassuolo

Napoli continued a perfect start to their Serie A title defence with Sunday's 2-0 win over 10-man Sassuolo, while Juventus survived penalty controversy in a 1-1 draw with furious Bologna.

Victor Osimhen netted his third goal of the season from the penalty spot 15 minutes into Napoli's first home match since lifting the league title in front of their fans for the third time back in June.

And captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo made sure Napoli would make it six points from six in the 64th minute, not long after Maxime Lopez was sent off and Giacomo Raspadori -- who had hit the post seconds after kick-off -- blasted a penalty into the stands.

"I think we played well, kept hold of the ball, we're happy to have won the match in front of our fans," said Di Lorenzo.

"We played well as a team. We've started well and the attitude is right so we've got everything for us to have a good season."

Di Lorenzo's first goal of the campaign came after some magical play from the returning Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who made his season debut an hour into a one-sided contest at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Kvaratskhelia scored 14 times last season and set up the same number again, and he made his mark just three minutes after replacing Italy forward Matteo Politano.

The Georgian was surrounded by defenders near the penalty area but took a couple of steps forward before slipping in Di Lorenzo for a simple low finish.

It's early days but Napoli already look a dangerous proposition under new coach Rudi Garcia, who has a tough act to follow in new Italy boss Luciano Spalletti, the architect of the Scudetto triumph.

Next week Napoli, who are level with leaders AC Milan and Verona at the top of the table, host Lazio who are yet to get off the mark after being beaten 1-0 by Promoted Genoa.

Lazio finished second last season but were seen off at home thanks to Italy forward Mateo Retegui's first Serie A goal after signing from Boca Juniors this summer.

It was a good sign for Spalletti who will need goals when Italy face North Macedonia and Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying next month.