TURIN, Italy — Arkadiusz Milik scored for Juventus to beat Lecce 1-0 on Tuesday and deal the visitors their first Serie A loss of the season.
Federico Chiesa missed the only real chance in a forgettable first half for Juventus, which emerged with more vigor after the break.
Milik made the breakthrough in the 57th minute when he emerged at the back post to convert from close range after Adrien Rabiot headed on Weston McKennie’s cross. A VAR check confirmed the Poland striker was onside.
Lecce was one of only two remaining teams along with Inter Milan to remain unbeaten after the opening five rounds but the visitors lacked the attacking threat to trouble Juve’s well-organized defense.
Nikola Krstović went closest for Lecce when he fired wide in the 76th.
Lecce’s Mohamed Kaba was sent off with a second yellow card for what the referee felt was a dive in injury time. Replays suggested the French forward wasn’t looking for a penalty and simply fell in a tussle for the ball.
Juventus slumped to a 4-2 defeat at struggling Sassuolo on Saturday after making three glaring errors and the home team was careful not to risk giving away any more goals on Tuesday. The win lifted the “Old Lady” to second, two points behind Inter, which hosts Sassuolo on Wednesday.
