Dybala double sends Juve clear

PAULO DYBALA hit a brace as champions Juventus underscored their Serie A title credentials only eight games into the campaign with a battling 2-1 win over Udinese yesterday.

Juventus had been given a huge incentive before their late kickoff with the league’s other bianconeri side after Roma stunned Napoli 3-1 at the San Paolo.

And the Old Lady took the title race by the scruff of the neck to leave Roma in second at five points adrift and Napoli now in third at seven points behind.

Dybala, however, said title talk is premature and that this performance proved there’s still room for improvement.

“We’re only in October, there’s still a lot to play for,” he told Sky Sport.

Just over a year after suffering defeat to Udinese in their opening match of the 2015-2016 campaign, the northerners had reason to believe in another upset.

Massimiliano Allegri left Gonzalo Higuain, Leonardo Bonucci and Sami Khedira and Dani Alves on the bench as he looks ahead to tomorrow’s Champions League trip to Lyon.

Jakub Jankto pounced on a misplaced pass from veteran France defender Patrice Evra and cut across the edge of the area to unleash a drive that beat Gianluigi Buffon.

Later, a freekick was awarded on the edge of the area and Dybala stepped up to curl his effort past a diving Orestis Karnezis and into the top right corner.

Juan Cuadrado’s exchange with Alex Sandro earned the hosts a penalty when the Brazilian wingback was fouled by Rodrigo De Paul, Dybala stepping up to send Karnezis the wrong way.

Earlier, Edin Dzeko was celebrating hitting his first league brace on the road as Roma stunned in the Derby del Sole to relaunch their own title hopes.

“It’s not easy to win at Napoli and to score three goals here, we did very well,” Dzeko told Sky Sport.

“Scoring two goals is great, it’s my first brace away from home.” – AFP