Lecce 0-2 Juventus: Luiz stars to clinch much-needed win for Spalletti

Douglas Luiz got a goal and an assist to lead Juventus to a 2-0 win over Lecce, who finished with 10 men at Stadio Ettore Giardiniero.

Luciano Spalletti has come under pressure after a topsy-turvy start to the season, but Luiz set up Weston McKennie before bagging a goal himself to get Juve back to winning ways in Serie A.

Lecce were almost in front after just 27 seconds as Konan N'Dri stuck out a leg to block Guglielmo Vicario's clearance on the edge of the six-yard box, but it flew just wide.

The hosts continued to show the greater threat in front of goal, but without testing Vicario, as Amar Fatah curled high and wide of the top-right corner.

But Juve opened the scoring with their first shot after Luiz won a central free-kick, which he clipped over Lecce's defence to pick out McKennie, who guided a scuffed first-time finish over Wladimiro Falcone after 29 minutes.

That sparked Juve into life, and Randal Kolo Muani fired wide before Luiz doubled their lead four minutes before the break, sweeping a long-range shot past Falcone, despite the goalkeeper getting a touch on it.

Lecce were on the front foot again at the start of the second half, with Oumar Ngom and Kialonda Gaspar both seeing efforts comfortably saved by Vicario.

Vicario also kept out Paco Esteban and N'Dri on either side of Nick Woltemade blazing over while one-on-one at close range, with Juventus holding out for a win.

With only seconds remaining, Lecce were dealt a blow for their next match against Frosinone, as Gaspar was shown a second yellow card – this one for dissent.

Luiz helps cover over some of the cracks

A 3-0 loss to high-flying Lazio last time out in Serie A ramped up the pressure on Juventus, who had won just one of their last four games in all competitions before facing Lecce (D2 L1).

Three points on the board will provide a big boost to Juve, who now sit seventh in the table, but there will still be questions asked as they struggled to put much pressure on Lecce for large swathes of the contest.

Juventus were clinical – scoring with both of their shots on target – but they only managed eight attempts worth 1.07 expected goals, compared to 16 shots from Lecce, though their chances only amounted to 0.94 xG as they failed to find their golden touch.

Luiz pulled the strings before the break, though, scoring and providing an assist in the same match for the first time in his career in the top five European leagues (261st match).

He was the only player to create more than one chance (two) for Juventus, while he also had the most touches (94), accurate passes (64/78) and passes in the final third (28) of anyone else on the team.

It should come as no surprise, though, given no team has won more Serie A away matches against Lecce than Juve (13, level with Inter).