Juventus in seventh heaven

Roma blank Genoa to end winless streak

MILAN, Dec 20, (AFP): Mario Mandzukic hit his first Juventus brace and Paul Pogba added a third as the Serie A champions ended the year with a patchy 3-2 win over struggling Carpi on Sunday.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men travelled to Modena, Carpi’s temporary home, looking to make it seven wins from their past seven league outings as they continue their comeback from a disastrous start to the season.

And after seeing Carpi threaten to claim a share of the spoils after Leonardo Bonucci turned into his own net at the death, Allegri was a relieved man.

Juventus were stunned on the quarter hour when Marco Borriello turned Bonucci in the Juventus area to beat Gianluigi Buffon down low.

Mandzukic’s brace gave the Turin giants a 2-1 lead at the break and the impressive Pogba allowed the champions to breathe easy with a well-taken third five minutes into the second half.

But Juve were lucky to escape dropping precious points when Lorenzo Lollo fluffed a late chance in front of goal after Bonucci had reduced arrears with a shock own goal two minutes into added-on time, prompting a fit of rage from Allegri on the touchlines. Darmstadt’s Tobias Kempe (right), and Moenchengladbach’s Julian Korb (left), challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and SV Darmstadt 98 in Moenchengladbach,

Germany, Dec 20. (AP)