Rome (AFP)

A four-day debut in the Champions League at Atlético Madrid, Juventus was not very reassuring and was held in check (0-0) by Fiorentina Franck Ribéry Saturday at the 3rd Serie A day, which also saw Naples win without shaking.

Not very inspired offensively and in physical difficulty, Juventus Cristiano Ronaldo was neutralized on the ground of Fiorentina (0-0), worn for an hour by the talent of Ribery, tenured for the first time since his arrival in Tuscany.

The French, impressive technical quality and science of the game, showed that he had not really come to Italy in pre-retirement.

"I'm happy, it's been almost three months since I played in a match and I only arrived three weeks ago," said Ribery in Italian on Sky.

"I'm happy to work every day to get my level back, today I played one hour, that's good, we have to continue like that," added the former Munich.

Ribery was particularly in view before the break, with a good strike (19th) and a superb ball for Dalbert, who should have done better in front of Szczesny (41st). But he also set the example with a spectacular defensive return on Ronaldo (59th).

Juventus side, Maurizio Sarri will not have much positive to bring back from this match in Florence, the first he will have led on the bench Turin after missing the first two because of pneumonia.

- doubled by Mertens -

The most disturbing, while Juve will go Wednesday in Madrid to face Atlético in the Champions League, is undoubtedly the physical state of the troops.

Having already suffered in this area against Parma (1-0) and late against Naples (4-3), the bianconeri have again appeared in trouble, shaken by the pressing and marked by heat.

Even more annoying, the three changes of Sarri were dictated by physical problems, the wounds of Douglas Costa and Pjanic before the break then the cramps of Danilo even before the hour of play.

Juve, where Ronaldo has shown that on a returned miss and an average shot, still counts seven points after three days. But Inter Milan, who receives the Udinese at 20:45, will pass alone in the lead of the championship if successful.

Naples have six points after quietly defeating Sampdoria Genoa (2-0), in great difficulty with three defeats in three games and already nine goals conceded.

On Saturday, the two Neapolitan goals were scored by Dries Mertens, in good shape before facing Liverpool on Tuesday at the stadium San Paolo, whose locker room is finally ready after the polemics of the week.

This is good news for Carlo Ancelotti, who will be especially pleased to have seen his team not conceding a goal after taking three against Fiorentina (4-3 win) and four against Juventus (4-3 defeat) .

© 2019 AFP