Juve keep Lazio at bay with win

JUVENTUS maintained their four-point lead at the top of Serie A yesterday after strolling to a 3-1 win at Genoa that keeps chasers Lazio at bay despite their comeback triumph at Torino.

Three stunning individual goals from Paulo Dybala, Cristiano Ronaldo and Douglas Costa downed relegationthreatened Genoa and kept Maurizio Sarri on course to deliver Juve’s ninth straight league title in his first season as coach.

“It was a good team effort and we scored three brilliant goals,” said Sarri.

“The team have recovered well after the disappointment of losing the Italian Cup final, it was only a matter of time.”

The victory at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris showcased the firepower Sarri has at his disposal, with Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin making five saves in the goalless first half as Juve pushed early to win the match.

Dybala put his side in the lead in the 50th minute with a beautiful finish following a snaking dribble, a strike that set the tone for the rest of the match.

Ronaldo showed that he was back to his best seven minutes later when he charged towards goal before letting off a rocket of a shot that Perin could only grasp at as it fired into the net.

That settled the result, but substitute Costa then made his own case for goal of the match when he collected the ball towards the right side of the area and unleashed a curling, dipping shot that again left Perin bewildered.

“They (Dybala and Ronaldo) have learned to look for each other more often,” Sarri said of a blossoming partnership.

“They have realised that by benefitting from each other, both reap the rewards. It’s something I have noticed in training too.”

Earlier, Lazio had done their part yesterday when they came from behind again to win 2-1 against struggling Torino.

Andrea Belotti gave the hosts an early lead from the penalty spot after Immobile handled but spent the rest of the match on the back foot and are 14th on 31 points.

Lazio meanwhile are still in the hunt for their first league title in 20 years and are also practically guaranteed Champions League football next season for the first time since 2007-08, as they are 20 points ahead of fifth-placed local rivals Roma.