Juventus made life hard for themselves but held on to defeat 10-man Maccabi Haifa and earn their first win in Champions League Group A.
Giorgio Chiellini's header early in the second half was enough to hand the Bianconeri all three points in Turin.
The visitors were handed a blow when midfielder Tiago Dutra was shown a straight red with 22 minutes remaining after a hard tackle on Chiellini.
Despite playing in numerical superiority, Juve failed to extend thei! r lead as Maccabi went in search of the equaliser but the hosts held on for victory.
The outcome leaves Juve second in the standings, two points behind leaders Bordeaux.
Having picked up a point in each of their opening two group games, Ciro Ferrara's side were under pressure to deliver against the Israeli champions.
It was the visitors that enjoyed a strong start and almost took the lead in the opening stages.
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a stunning save to deny Vladimir Dvalishvili's close-range header from Gustavo Boccoli's cross.
Shortly after, Fabio Grosso tested Nir Davidovitch with a stinging free-kick which the Maccabi goalkeeper punched away out of danger.
In the 20th minute, Juve put a good move together with Grosso's assist serving David Trezeguet on the edge of the area, whose volley went inches wide of the far post.
Maccabi struggled to get past Juve's defence and Lior Rafaelov tried his luck from th! e distance but his effort went high and wide.
Ferrara w! as force d to make a substitution in the 35th minute with Martin Caceres replacing the injured Jonathan Zebina.
On the stroke of the half-time, Buffon was called on to make a save from Dvalishvili's left-footed strike from the edge of the area.
Juve showed more determination after the restart and it did not take long for them to break the deadlock.
Chiellini latched onto Diego's free-kick from the left towards the area before heading past Davidovitch.
Juve twice had the chance to double their lead.
In the 53rd minute, Diego's lobbed ball went just high over the bar with the Maccabi keeper already beaten.
Shortly after, Grosso served Trezeguet inside the area and his right- footed strike was met by a fine save from Davidovitch.
On the hour mark Felipe Melo was forced to leave the pitch having sustained an ankle injury.
Despite having Dutra sent off, Maccabi did not give up and Buffon was forced to fully stretch to clear Dvalishvi! li's 30-yard strike towards the far post.
The hosts were unlucky not to put the game beyond Maccabi's reach with six minutes remaining.
Diego served Mauro Camoranesi inside the area, whose powerful right-footed strike beat Davidovitch but rebounded off the near post.
Juve were made to sweat in the final stages of the game with the visitors surging forward in search of the equaliser.
Their efforts were almost rewarded deep in stoppage time but Buffon made a crucial save from Mohammad Ghadir's strike from the left side of the box as Juve held on for victory.
