Another inch-perfect Dusan Vlahovic free kick and Arkadiusz Milik’s first goal for the club allowed Juventus to get the better of Spezia.
The Bianconeri were feeling the pressure after back-to-back draws with Sampdoria and Roma, still missing Leonardo Bonucci, Paul Pogba, Federico Chiesa and Kaio Jorge. Angel Di Maria returned to the bench after a muscular strain, with Federico Gatti getting his Serie A debut. Spezia had Albin Ekdal suspended, Daniel Maldini, Kelvin Amian and Salva Ferrer carrying injuries.
Leandro Paredes was in the stands after completing his loan move with obligation to buy from Paris Saint-Germain.
Dusan Vlahovic broke the deadlock early against Roma with a perfect free kick into the near top corner and he provided the crowd with an exact replica here after nine minutes.
Emmanuel Gyasi had the ball in the net with a fine lob, but only after wandering well offside. Spezia continued to push, Gleison Bremer making a decisive interception on Holm’s cross for M’Bala Nzola, but on the resulting corner, Szczesny landed heavily on his ankle and had to be stretchered off.
Juan Cuadrado had penalty appeals waved away on the stroke of half-time, as he seemed to just run into Petko Hristov.
Fabio Miretti had his strike deflected for a corner, but Bartlomiej Dragowski had to claw a Vlahovic header off the line from a corner.
Angel Di Maria made his comeback from injury and sent Danilo clear on the counter, only for the Brazilian to blast off target.
Juventus did seal the scoreline in stoppages with substitute Arek Milik’s first goal for the club. Miretti turned a defender to burst down the right and rolled across, Milik controlled with his back to goal, spun Hristov in one movement and drilled in from 10 yards.
Juventus 2-0 Spezia
Vlahovic 9 (J), Milik 92 (J)