Juventus 3-1 Maccabi Haifa: Italians break Champions League duck with Angel Di Maria-inspired win

Adrien Rabiot, centre, fired Juventus ahead in the first half

Juventus earned their first Champions League win this season over Maccabi Haifa thanks to an inspirational display from Angel Di Maria.

He set up Adrien Rabiot's double and Dusan Vlahovic's strike to give Juve their first points.

However Juve still face an uphill task to reach the last 16 as they trail PSG and Benfica by four points in Group H.

Israel's Haifa spooked the nervy home crown when Din David pulled it back to 2-1, and they also hit the post twice.

Fewer than 29,000 fans were at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, with Juve supporters disillusioned by poor form which has placed manager Max Allegri under pressure.

The mood was not helped in the 12th minute as Vlahovic spurned two great chances to score his sixth goal of the season in the space of seconds. He had a low shot well saved by Josh Cohen, then scuffed a simpler finish wide.

However Argentine veteran Di Maria lifted his team in the 35th minute with a smart pass to Rabiot who slammed into the roof of the net.

Then four minutes after the interval the former PSG man split the Maccabi defence to set Vlahovic free, and this time the Serbian forward finished calmly.

There were nerves when David, one of several players fasting for Yom Kippur, skipped around Wojciech Szczesny and rolled home.

But Di Maria produced for Juve again, swinging in a perfect corner which Rabiot glanced home.