Juventus 1-0 Chievo

Diego set up Vincenzo Iaquinta for the only goal of the game as Juventus opened their league campaign with a win over Chievo.

The Brazil star, signed from Werder Bremen this summer for around 25million euros, sent in a cross for Iaquinta to head home after just 11 minutes.

It was the high point of an impressive performance by Diego, who made a good impression on the fans at the Stadio Olimpico.

Juve dominated the first period and seemed destined to pile on more goals, but they eased off after the break and, in the end, had to be content with one.

The Bianconeri started on the front foot, Giorgio Chiellini muscling his way through the Chievo defence early on before sending in a right-foot shot which went just wide.

It took virtually no time for Juve's early dominance to pay off as Diego earned a free-kick after being fouled by Luca Rigoni.

The 24-year-old took the free-kick himself, curling it invitingly into the area for Iaquinta to nod home with a well-timed leap.

The visitors created little, their best chance - Sergio Pellissier's shot, after being played in by Giampiero Pinzi - ruled offside by the referee's assistant.

Indeed, Juve should have made it two after 26 minutes.

Amauri got away on the left wing and crossed into the area, where Iaquinta again got a great header off, but this time Stefano Sorrentino made a fantastic save.

Diego continued to cause problems with his delivery, one which was repelled by Sorrentino and another which found Chiellini, who headed over.

Juve were in total control at this stage and seemed destined for more goals as Chievo struggled to get a grip on the game.

The second half began in similar manner, but when Cristian Poulsen lost the ball, Juve needed a timely interception from Fabio Cannavaro to snuff out a promising Chievo counter.

Another Poulsen error then let in Pellissier, advanced into the area and turned Chiellini and crossed the ball, but Zdenek Grygera nipped in ahead of Erjon Bogdani who would have had an open goal.

Diego continued to threaten, flicking the ball forward to Amauri, whose effort struck the right-hand post before going behind.

Poulsen set about atoning for his errors, crossing for Chiellini to deflect the ball to Diego who controlled nicely but volleyed off target.

Chievo were then denied a fantastic chance to equalise when Pellissier was harshly adjudged offside after being played in nicely by Simone Bentivoglio.

That was the last chance of a game which Juve will feel they should have won by more.