Fabio Grosso snatched a 2-1 Juventus victory in Florence after first half Diego and Marco Marchionni strikes.

This has always been a grudge match and in this instance three very important points for both sides, as Fiorentina had dropped to mid-table and Juve were fresh from a shock 2-0 home defeat to Palermo. Alessandro Del Piero was a late addition to the injury list, joining Gigi Buffon, Martin Caceres, Mauro Camoranesi and Sebastian Giovinco. Alberto Gilardino, Juan Manuel Vargas and Cristiano Zanetti returned from injury for the Viola.

Felipe Melo returned to face the club he left in the summer and was roundly jeered every time he touched the ball.

Juventus broke the deadlock after 100 seconds at the packed Stadio Franchi. Antonio Candreva placed a through ball to release Diego right on the edge of the offside trap and he waltzed around Sebastien Frey to slot in. David Trezeguet was offside, but ignored the ball and replays show Diego's feet were level with the defender, even though his chest was slightly in front.

There was a handling offence on the edge of the box and Riccardo Montolivo's free kick was nodded clear. The move continued and a deflection sent Gilardino one-on-one, so Alex Manninger rushed off his line to parry for a corner.

Vargas' free kick skimmed the base of the near post, then Manninger had to run out of his box to clear from Gilardino. At the other end Trezeguet sprung the offside trap from a ball over the top, but Gianluca Comotto did well to block his shot as he was pulling the trigger.

Fiorentina were piling on the pressure and made the most of a defensive error to equalise with former Juve man Marco Marchionni. Paolo De Ceglie cut towards the centre to mark Gilardino when Massimo Gobbi's cross-field pass was floated in, but forgot Marchionni totally alone behind him for a precise header from seven yards. To add insult to injury, the distracted Manninger mistimed his exit and collided with De Ceglie.

Marchionni again beat De Ceglie on 42 minutes with a great first touch, but he hit something between a shot and a cross that flashed past Gilardino.

Fabio Grosso replaced De Ceglie for the second half. Trezeguet forced a fantastic point-blank reaction save out of Frey, but it wouldn't have counted as he was incorrectly flagged offside.

Frey blocked a Diego free kick that was curling its way into the near top corner. Mario Bolatti replaced the still not 100 per cent fit Vargas.

Trezeguet scuffed the volley on Candreva's chipped cross to the back post, making it easy for Frey.

The Viola went very close on 66 minutes, as a corner was flashed past everyone to reach Felipe at the back post, but Nicola Legrottaglie was alert and intercepted the ball.

However, Juventus restored their lead with a rare goal from substitute Grosso. Momo Sissoko threaded through for Grosso down the left side of the box and he smashed a very precise ball across Frey into the far top corner off the underside of the bar, practically from the goalline.

Iaquinta made his comeback after nearly five months on the sidelines with numerous knee injury problems, while Christian Poulsen made his first appearance since January 10. Keirrison replaced Zanetti for an all-attack formation and straight away Marchionni's cross-shot sailed just over the bar.

Manninger smothered a Jovetic free kick that went through the wall. The Viola wanted a penalty for a handling offence, as Giorgio Chiellini's sliding tackle saw the ball hit his leg and then his trailing arm.

Fiorentina had far stronger appeals when Manninger clumsily rushed off his line to collide with both Chiellini and Keirrison. Replays suggest Chiellini had his arm on the Brazilian's shoulder, but it was a chaotic situation.

Chiellini picked up a knock in that move and could not be substituted, as the changes had been completed, so Poulsen went into a full-back role, Zebina into the centre and left Chiellini in midfield for a less physically taxing position.

Manninger got down to smother a scuffed Jovetic daisy-cutter with the outside of his right foot.

The home side dominated the final 15 minutes, but Juve clammed up to protect the lead. When they did go on the counter, the Bianconeri were also dangerous, as Claudio Marchisio cut back past a defender to sting Frey's palms with a fierce left-foot shot.

Fiorentina: Frey; Comotto (De Silvestri 78), Natali, Felipe, Gobbi; Montolivo, Zanetti (Keirrison 70); Marchionni, Jovetic, Vargas (Bolatti 57); Gilardino

Juventus: Manninger; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, De Ceglie (Grosso 46); Marchisio, Felipe Melo, Sissoko (Poulsen 75); Candreva, Diego; Trezeguet (Iaquinta 72)

Ref: Damato