Juventus go second in Serie A
milan — Juventus moved second in Serie A after a trademark Miralem Pjanic free-kick led the reigning champions to a comfortable 3-0 win at Bologna on Sunday, while AC Milan were plunged further into crisis by a heavy loss at lowly Verona.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve are on 41 points, just a point behind leaders Napoli after leapfrogging Inter Milan, who suffered a shock first defeat of the season to Udinese on Saturday.
Bosnian Pjanic opened the scoring with a stunning 27thminute free-kick and turned provider nine minutes later, clipping over a beautiful pass to Mario Mandzukic that the Croat smartly chested down and stroked past Bologna keeper Antonio Mirante.
Blaise Matuidi made sure of the points in the 64th minute with his first Serie A goal, the France international crashing a clearance back past Mirante on the half-volley.
“I feel good, I’m improving, the team got the three points we needed and I am happy,” midfielder Pjanic said.
Fourth spot is held by Roma, who are just four points behind Napoli with a game in hand on the top three after a dramatic 1-0 win over Cagliari on Saturday, decided in the 94th minute by Federico Fazio.
Lazio are fifth, but are now nine points off top spot, albeit also with a game in hand, after a dramatic 3-3 draw at Atalanta on Sunday.
Without the suspended Ciro Immobile, Sergei MilinkovicSavic scored twice to draw Lazio level before half-time after falling two goals down early on.
Josip Ilicic completed a double of his own from the penalty spot to put the hosts back in front, and although former Liverpool midfielder Luis Alberto equalised again, Lazio failed to find a winner.
Crotone moved out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win over Chievo gained thanks to Ante Budimir’s 33rd-minute tap-in.
Sassuolo snatched a last gasp 1-0 win at Sampdoria through Alessandro Matri, who made up for Matteo Politano’s 82nd-minute penalty miss for the away side. — AFP