Vlahovic ends 180-day drought with free kick as Juventus held 1-1 by relegated Verona

Key facts

• Dusan Vlahovic scored his first goal of 2026, a direct free kick, ending a 180-day drought.
• Juventus drew 1-1 with Hellas Verona at Allianz Stadium on May 3, 2026.
• Verona took the lead in the 34th minute through Alistair Johnston, assisted by Domagoj Bradaric.
• Juventus remained fourth with 65 points, missing the chance to go joint third with Milan.
• Verona were already relegated after Lecce's win over Pisa on Friday.
• Juventus had kept four consecutive clean sheets before conceding to Verona.
• The match was the first direct free kick scored by Juventus in Serie A this season.

Lede and immediate stakes

Dusan Vlahovic came off the bench to score his first goal of 2026, a curling free kick that rescued a 1-1 draw for Juventus against already-relegated Hellas Verona at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday. The result was a missed opportunity for the Bianconeri to climb into third place in Serie A after Como, Napoli and Milan all dropped points over the weekend. Juventus entered the match in fourth place with 64 points, holding a fragile two-point cushion over fifth-placed Como. A victory would have put them level on points with Milan in third, but instead they remain fourth with 65 points, two points ahead of Como with three rounds left.

How the match unfolded

Juventus dominated the first half, controlling possession with over 64 percent and creating several chances. Francisco Conceicao tested Lorenzo Montipò at the near post, and a Pierre Kalulu cross was flicked onto the crossbar by Gleison Bremer's head in the 26th minute. Manuel Locatelli saw a strike deflected wide and was later booked for simulation. Against the run of play, Verona took the lead in the 34th minute. Bremer was caught in possession while passing out from the back, Domagoj Bradaric intercepted and rolled the ball across from the left for Kieron Bowie to sweep in. It was a gift that ended Juventus' run of four consecutive clean sheets. Alistair Johnston was initially credited with the goal in some reports, but the sequence involved Bradaric's assist and Bowie's finish.

Vlahovic's rescue act and tactical shift

Luciano Spalletti threw on Dusan Vlahovic for Khephren Thuram at the start of the second half, switching to a 4-4-2 formation. After a couple of crosses that were too high for the Serbian, he equalised in spectacular fashion, bending a free kick around the Verona wall and into the near bottom corner. It was his first goal of 2026, ending a 180-day drought, and remarkably the first direct free kick scored by Juventus in Serie A this season. Juventus pushed for a winner, with Akpa Akpro nearly turning a Conceicao pull-back into his own net from four yards. Montipò made two extraordinary reaction saves in the space of a minute to deny Conceicao from point-blank range. Edon Zhegrova and Jeremie Boga also tested the Verona goalkeeper, but the visitors held on for a point.

Injuries, suspensions and absentees

Juventus were without Arkadiusz Milik and Juan Cabal, while Kenan Yildiz returned to the starting XI after two games as a substitute. Verona's lengthy injury list included Armel Bella-Kotchap, Cheikh Niasse, Daniel Oyegoke, Suat Serdar and Daniel Mosquera. Nicolas Valentini was suspended, and Gift Orban was frozen out after an altercation with a fan. The visitors also missed the creativity of Abdou Harroui, who was booked late in the game.

Historical context and league implications

Juventus had never lost a Serie A match at home to Verona in 34 previous meetings, recording 29 wins and five draws. That unbeaten record remains intact, but the draw extends Verona's unbeaten run in Turin to six matches. The result leaves Juventus still in the top-four race but with work to do, as they hold only a two-point lead over Como with three games remaining. Verona, already relegated after Lecce's 2-1 win at Pisa on Friday, are preparing for life in Serie B for the first time since 2019. Their last league victory came in early March against Bologna, and they have won only once since the start of 2026. Despite the draw, they showed resilience after a season of struggle.

What comes next

Juventus must now regroup for their remaining three fixtures, needing to secure Champions League qualification. Spalletti will hope Vlahovic's goal reignites his form after a difficult season. Verona, with nothing but pride left, face their final matches before dropping to the second tier. The draw leaves both sides with mixed feelings: Juventus frustrated at a missed chance, Verona encouraged by a spirited performance against a top-four side. The Bianconeri's defensive solidity, which had yielded six clean sheets in seven league matches, was breached by a single error, a reminder of the fine margins in the run-in.

The bottom line

• Juventus missed the chance to go third after rivals dropped points, remaining fourth with 65 points.
• Dusan Vlahovic ended a 180-day goal drought with a direct free kick, his first goal of 2026.
• Verona took a surprise lead through Kieron Bowie after a Bremer error, their first goal against Juventus in Turin in four visits.
• Juventus had kept four consecutive clean sheets before conceding, highlighting their defensive strength.
• Verona are already relegated and will play in Serie B next season for the first time since 2019.
• The draw keeps Juventus' top-four hopes alive but leaves them with little margin for error in the final three matches.