Old Lady end wait but Paulo pays price
PAULO DYBALA scored a superb goal before leaving the pitch in tears with an injury as Juventus grabbed beat Sampdoria 3-2.
The Argentina fired a low shot into the bottom corner after 10 minutes but limped off soon after with a muscular problem.
Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri said Dybala and his strike partner Alvaro Morata, who also went off injured, are “certain” to miss the Champions League clash with champs Chelsea on Wednesday.
He said: “We hope to have them back after the international break, but this is part of the game.”
Allegri’s side are up to ninth on eight points, three points clear of 14th-placed Sampdoria but eight adrift of leaders AC Milan.
Leonardo Bonucci doubled Juve’s advantage from the spot before Maya Yoshida pulled one back.
Manuel Locatelli scored his first for the Bianconeri in the second half, but Antonio Candreva’s late strike meant Juve had a nervy ending for a first home league win of the season.
Elsewhere, Aaron Hickey and Liam Henderson made history as two Scotsmen started a Serie A clash for the first time ever.
The latter played a big part in helping his Empoli side overcome Bologna 4-2, setting up the opener and winning a penalty.
In Spain, goals from Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong and the returning Ansu Fati helped Barcelona claim a much-needed 3-0 home victory over Levante.
The victory, Barca’s first in their last four games in all competitions, moved the Catalans up to fifth in the table with 12 points – five behind leaders Real Madrid.
Real Sociedad kept up the pressure in second spot as Mikel Oyarzabal’s goal nine minutes from time saw off Elche 1-0.