Juventus were indebted to the clinical finishing of Vincenzo Iaquinta as they had to come from two goals down to avoid an embarrassing defeat against unfancied BATE Borisov in their Champions League Group H match.
The Belorussians were widely expected to be the whipping boys of the group in their first-ever appearance in the group stage of Europe's premier club competition.
Viktor Goncharenko's side proved to be anything but that in the opening 23 minutes as they raced into a two-goal lead with goals from Sergei Krivets and Igor Stasevich.
It was no more than the hosts deserved as the Bianconeri looked ill-equipped to keep pace with their rivals in a hectic opening.
But the Italians bided their time and the inexperience of BATE eventually told as they twice allowed Italy striker Iaquinta too much space to bring Juve level before the break.
It was less than Juve had deserved following the Belorussians' early enterprise, but the home side at least held out in the second half to earn a deserved point.
Juve coach Claudio Ranieri made four changes from the team that were held to a goalless draw by Sampdoria at the weekend, highlighted by the inclusion of Iaquinta for Amauri.
BATE were without defender Anri Khagash following his sending off in BATE's 2-0 defeat in their opener against Real Madrid.
Spurred on by a capacity crowd at the Horodskiy stadium, BATE immediately set about pressing their more fancied opponents.
The home side won a string of corners in the opening minutes with striker Vitaly Rodionov going closest with a header that flew wide.
BATE were playing a quick-tempo game that was clearly troubling their Italian guests who were giving away possession far too cheaply.
The home side were proving slippery with some quick passing exchanges and they earned rich reward after 17 minutes following a cool piece of finishing from Krivets.
Midfielder Dzmitry Likhtarovich won a loose ball in midfield before sliding an inch-perfect pass to the blonde striker whose incisive run between the central defenders allowed him a one-on-one with Alex Manninger.
And Krivets made the finish look easy as he calmly rounded the on-rushing goalkeeper before sliding a left-footed shot into the now empty net.
A second came just six minutes later when Pavel Nekhaychik sent a cross from the left flank to the far post where Pavel Nedved misjudged his leap to allow Stasevich the opportunity to nod a shot across a motionless Manninger.
Juve were clearly stunned, with the pace of their hosts causing them concern as they continued to find room down both flanks.
But the inexperience of BATE showed as they continued to play an expansive game, which allowed the Bianconeri to find a way back.
Juve had not scored more than two goals in their past seven games and had hardly threatened when they got their first back in the 29th minute.
After Alessandro Del Piero's 30-yard free-kick had forced a good save from Sergey Veremko the home defence showed a lack of concentration from the ensuing corner as they first failed to properly clear the ball before leaving Iaquinta unmarked at the far post to head home Sebastian Giovinco's cross.
The goal was barely deserved, but BATE failed to heed the warning as they continued to press forward in search of goals.
And they were hit on a counter-attack just moments before the interval with Giovinco again the architect, sliding a lovely pass to Iaquinta who had peeled off his marker before firing a low shot through the legs of Vermeko.
It was the last kick of a hectic opening period and the second half showed little signing of slowing in the early stages.
Stasevich shot wildly soon after the break while Aliaksandr Valadzko should have done better than spoon his shot over the crossbar after an incisive run down the right from Alexander Yurevich had played him in.
Juve replied with Nedved stinging the palms of Veremko with a ferocious strike from outside the area while Del Piero poked a shot wide of the post after he got to a cross ahead of Veremko with an outstretched leg.
The game eventually did slow down and Ranieri's side were looking a far more composed outfit because of it.
Del Piero sought to wriggle his way through the home defence with a run that was stopped by a well-timed Sergey Sosnovskiy tackle in the area before Giorgio Chiellini's ambitious overhead kick was easily saved.
But there would be no winner for Juventus as BATE claimed their first-ever point at this stage of the competition.
