Half-Time Report: Arturo Vidal hands Juventus lead

Arturo Vidal has given Juventus a half-time lead in their Europa League last-16 clash with Fiorentina.

The home side took the lead in the third minute when a loose ball fell kindly to Vidal in the penalty area and he made no mistake volleying past Neto, with a strike into the bottom corner.

Fiorentina responded and Alberto Aquilani nearly fired home an equaliser for his side when a clearance fell into his path on the edge of the area, and he drilled a shot just wide of the post.

The visitors threatened again as Matias Fernandez found room inside the box down the left, and he fired a shot at goal from a tight angle but Gianluigi Buffon got down low to make the save.

In an end-to-end game, Vidal came close to notching his second of the match as Claudio Marchisio lifted a cross to the back post and the forward nodded the ball at goal but Neto made the stop.

Just before the break, Vidal got a header away at goal which hit the crossbar and went over, while at the other end Borja Valero's deflected shot went inches wide of the post.