Juventus and Fiorentina both fired in their respective first-leg ties against Artmedia and Slavia Prague.

 Fiorentina dominated their Champions League tie with Slavia Prague, winning 2-0 with Alberto Gilardino and a magnificent Adrian Mutu free kick.

It took less than four minutes for the Tuscans to break the deadlock, as Mutu put all memories of a potential move to Roma behind him by curling a magnificent free kick into the top corner. The set piece was almost 30 metres out and quite wide to the left, but seemed laser-guided by the Romanian towards the near post.

Gilardino couldn't make the most of a Jorge Vargas free kick, then a Gobbi cross was plucked off the head of the former Milan striker.

It was difficult to break down a very solid and timid Slavia side, so Zdravko Kuzmanovic tried a long-range effort that whipped just past the post. Santana did well to anticipate two defenders and turn the ball back into the middle with an overhead kick for Kuzmanovic's low drive.

Gilardino just failed to get enough power to Santana's cross from the right and moments later Luciano Zauri's centre was deflected off his foot for a corner. Gila went even closer with a header to whip Kuzmanovic's cross just past the far post.

Straight after the restart Vargas nearly propelled the Slavia goalkeeper back into his own net with an incredibly powerful free kick from 20 metres.

The second goal finally arrived on 57 minutes with Gilardino's first official goal in a Fiorentina jersey. The Prague defence did not deal with the Vargas corner kick effectively and Gila was quick to react by placing a looping header towards the far post from six yards.

Slavia knew they needed a goal and introduced another forward in the form of Necid. Another substitute, Inter youth product Belaid, was booked for a terrible tackle on Mutu's knee. Fiorentina gave Sergio Almiron his official debut just a week after his move from Juventus, switching Gobbi to right-back.

It was almost 3-0 on 65 minutes, but goalkeeper Vaniak somehow managed to parry both Santana and Gilardino's deflections on a Mutu cross from point-blank range.

Necid had timid penalty appeals when he went shoulder to shoulder with Luciano Zauri. Felipe Melo won back the ball in midfield and threaded through for Gilardino, but Vaniak was quick to close him down. The goalkeeper also smothered a dipping Kuzmanovic free kick.

Vaniak had a moment of utter panic when Mutu tried to curl in directly from the corner flag. He got a hand to push it out, but it is not clear how much of the ball actually crossed the line.

Giampaolo Pazzini and Daniel Pablo Osvaldo replaced the tired Gilardino and Mutu for the final 15 minutes in a bid to steamroller Slavia Prague and get a bigger advantage going into the second leg. There was chaos from another corner kick, as Kroldrup ended up accidentally sitting on the ball from a yard and the plethora of feet kicking at it failed to push it over the line.

Moments later Osvaldo bravely rode two tough tackles - at least one of which could have been a penalty - before the defence managed to clear. Pazzini should've done better when turning a free header off target from seven yards.

Fiorentina 2-0 Slavia Prague
Scorers: Mutu 3 (F), Gilardino 57 (F)
Fiorentina: Frey; Zauri, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Vargas (Almiron 64); Kuzmanovic, Felipe Melo, Gobbi; Santana, Gilardino (Pazzini 76), Mutu (Osvaldo 76)
Slavia Prague: Vaniak; Suchy, Brabec, Latka, Hubacek; Janda (Krajcik 75), M Jarolim (Necid 61), Tavares, Svento; Gebre Selassie (Belaid 53), Senkerik
Ref: Webb (Eng)

Juventus crushed Artmedia 4-0 in the Champions League preliminary round with Mauro Camoranesi, Giorgio Chiellini, Nicola Legrottaglie and an Alex Del Piero screamer.

It took seven minutes for Juventus to break the deadlock after stringing together a series of corner kicks. Mauro Camoranesi started the swift passing move that sent Zdenek Grygera clear, but when the defender lost his footing, Camoranesi was ready for the powerful strike from 10 yards at the near post.

Ranieri was forced into a change, as Urbanek accidentally clattered into Grygera - who was his teammate and friend at Under-21 level - and the Juventus man was stretchered off. In a curious tactical decision, Vincenzo Iaquinta came on, moving Salihamidzic to defence.

David Trezeguet almost made it 2-0 at full stretch to tip a deflected cross just past the post in what would've been a classic poacher's goal. Poulsen threaded through for Cristian Molinaro to test the goalkeeper at the near post.

Del Piero doubled Juve's advantage with an absolute screamer! The captain exchanged passes with Trezeguet outside the box and unleashed a first-time right-foot missile into the top corner. The Artmedia 'keeper had no chance of getting to the shot, which had a vicious bend as well as power.

Alex was on spectacular form and hooked a loose ball that was going out of play and threaded his pass between two defenders. Piroska had his shot charged down, but Del Piero's inspired through ball that allowed Iaquinta to spring the offside trap was wasted by a poor first touch.

It was 3-0 before half-time, as a free kick was floated into the box by Camoranesi for the powerful Giorgio Chiellini header from seven yards, although Kamenar badly mistimed his run. Buffon made his first save of the night on 43 minutes from Halenar's timid effort.

After the restart Poulsen's strike from a deflected corner stung Kamenar's palms, while Del Piero attempted another curling gem - this time with his left foot - that skimmed the bar. Trezeguet hit the back of the net, but it was ruled out because the ball had already crossed the byline before Camoranesi managed to turn it back.

Artmedia had a great chance on 56 minutes as substitute Fodrek zipped down the left flank and his cross was smothered at the near post by Buffon just inches before Obzera could pounce, while later on Pospech threatened from six yards.

Iaquinta cracked a low right-foot drive against the post from the edge of the penalty area. Amauri replaced Del Piero, who received a standing ovation from the Stadio Olimpico in Turin. Trezeguet was a little hesitant when clear on goal and Del Piero headed Amauri's cross off target.

There were some scares for Juve in the final 10 minutes, as tiredness set in and Artmedia threatened with Oravec. Trezeguet also went close, chesting down a ball over the top to thump just past the far post.

The tie was effectively over in the final minute, as a corner kick found Nicola Legrottaglie unmarked for a free header at the back post.

It could have been five in stoppages, but Kamenar parried Iaquinta's snapshot and Amauri ballooned the follow-up over the bar.

Juventus 4-0 Artmedia
Scorers: Camoranesi 7 (J), Del Piero 26 (J), Chiellini 39 (J), Legrottaglie 90 (J)
Juventus: Buffon; Grygera (Iaquinta 16), Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Camoranesi, Sissoko, Poulsen, Salihamidzic; Del Piero (Amauri 73), Trezeguet
Artmedia Bratislava: Kamenar; Fodrek, Ciskovsky, Salata, Urbanek; Piroska (Obzera 46), Kozak, Velicky, Pedro; Pospech (Oravec 82), Halenar (Glever 69)
Ref: Vassaras (Gre)

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