HIGUAIN BACK TO HELP JUVE RECLAIM TOP SPOT
GONZALO HIGUAIN returned to scoring ways as champions Juventus regained top spot from misfiring Napoli thanks to a 4-0 rout of outclassed Genoa in Turin yesterday. Higuain, signed from Napoli had failed to find the net in Juve’s past two outings – a scoreless draw with Sevilla in the Champions League and a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan on Sunday. But the Argentine striker quashed any emerging doubts about his talents with his fourth goal of the season just after the half hour after defender Daniele Rugani had given Juve a 14th minute lead. Juventus were dominant throughout and their visitors from Sardinia were lucky not to escape with more punishment. Dani Alves, signed during the close season from Barcelona, hit Juve’s third minutes before the interval and Mario Lemina saw his drive turned into the Cagliari net by Luca Ceppitelli in the closing minutes. After Napoli’s scoreless draw at Genoa, where Pepe Reina had to produce several key saves for the visitors late on, Juventus return to the top of the pile. Massimiliano Allegri’s men lead Napoli by one point, with Roma moving up to third after a 4-0 rout of league newcomers Crotone which included Edin Dzeko’s first brace of the season. A precious 2-1 win over Europa League debutants Sassuolo kept Chievo among the top four but the Verona-based side are only ahead of Inter Milan on goals difference. Inter eclipsed their poor start to the season under new coach Frank De Boer with an emphatic 1-0 win over Juventus on Sunday when Argentine striker Mauro Icardi hit the winner. Days before he is expected to sign a new contract extension with the Nerazzurri, Icardi hit a brace in a 2-0 win at Empoli to take his tally for the season to