Juve coach Allegri: We fell asleep

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted his team were caught napping during their league opener as they needed an injury-time winner to beat Chievo Verona on Cristiano Ronaldo's much-anticipated debut for The Old Lady yesterday morning (Singapore time).

The 33-year-old failed to score after joining from Real Madrid last month in a deal worth 100 million euros (S$156.7m), but clenched his fists with delight as his team earned all three points despite his four missed chances.

"Happy for the first victory in the Juve jersey!" Ronaldo tweeted after the match.

Italian winger Federico Bernardeschi scored the winner in injury-time after Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino was knocked out and later hospitalised following a collision with the Portuguese superstar.

The club later said he fractured his nose, hurt his shoulder and suffered whiplash.

Juve opened the scoring after just three minutes via Sami Khedira but Chievo then stormed back into the game.

Polish striker Mariusz Stepinski headed in a 37th-minute equaliser before Emanuele Giaccherini scored a penalty after 56 minutes following a foul by Juventus new boy Joao Cancelo.

But Chievo's Mattia Bani turned into his own net after 75 minutes, following pressure from returning Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci to pull the champions level.

In a frantic finale, substitute Bernardeschi scored the winner after Mario Mandzukic had a goal disallowed as a result of Sorrentino's collision with Ronaldo.

The Chievo goalkeeper was stretchered off and his replacement Andrea Seculin immediately conceded the decisive goal.

Allegri admitted that the match was an early reminder that despite winning the last seven Serie A titles, Juventus cannot afford to let their levels slip.

He told Sky Sports Italia: "We lowered our guard a little, even in our passing, because we thought the game was in hand, and lowered the tempo, too.

"You allow the press from the opposition, defend badly and ultimately (you) are going to concede...

"We were caught napping on the equaliser and did better with Bernardeschi and Mandzukic coming on towards the end.

"We need to find balance, but the most important thing is not to fall asleep when we're doing well."

Allegri struck a more positive note when asked about his new Portuguese superstar.

On Ronaldo, he was quoted by AFP as saying: "Everyone was waiting for the goal. It's a shame he couldn't score but Sorrentino denied him a couple of times.

"He was happy we got the win anyway.

"I'm happy with what he did and he's happy with his performance.

"We're still getting to know Ronaldo. He linked up well with (Paulo) Dybala today and I was impressed by how easily he slotted into the team."

Brazilian left-back Alex Sandro added: "I feel at ease with him (Ronaldo), and he's an excellent player.

"We understand each other, and we make a perfect team together. We have to go on like this."

In yesterday morning's other match, Juventus' closest challengers from last season, Napoli, also had to come from a goal down to beat Lazio 2-1 in Carlo Ancelotti's first match at the helm.

Like Allegri, Ancelotti suggested his side had fallen asleep to allow Lazio to take the lead.

The 59-year-old took over from Maurizio Sarri in the Napoli hot seat, promising to end the club's 28-year wait for a Serie A trophy.

But they were pushed hard by Lazio with last year's Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile scoring for the hosts after 25 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico.

Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik equalised just before the break after having a goal disallowed with Lorenzo Insigne scoring the winner after 59 minutes.

Said Ancelotti: "We conducted it well despite the final suffering. Their goal woke us up and we deserved to win.

"It was particularly special for me, because the Stadio Olimpico was my home as a player at Roma. I won so many games on that pitch."