Higuain brace puts Scudetto in sight
Gonzalo Higuain’s brace sent Juventus eight points clear in Serie A with a 2-0 win at struggling Pescara yesterday, and re-launched his bid for another top scorer’s award. Argentina striker Higuain, who hit a new league record of 36 goals for Napoli last season, now only trails Roma’s Edin Dzeko and Andrea Belotti of Torino by two goals in the ‘Capocannoniere’ race.
After successive braces last week over Cup and league duty that kept the Turin giants on course for a third consecutive double, Higuain was on target again at the Adriatic Stadium. He wrapped up the match before half-time after finishing off good work by Juan Cuadrado in the 23rd minute before beating Vincenzo Fiorillo in the hosts’ net from Mario Mandzukic’s knock-down just before the interval.
Roma’s 1-1 draw at home to Atalantawith Dzeko levelling Jasmin Kurtic’s 22nd minute strike five minutes after the restartallowed Juventus to extend their lead as they target a record sixth consecutive scudetto. The only blip for Massimiliano Allegri’s men was seeing Argentina forward Paulo Dybala, who hit a brace in the 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg win over Barcelona in midweek, limp off with an ankle injury four days before the second leg at the Camp Nou.
“Dybala took a knock, but there’s reason to remain optimistic,” Allegri told Premium Sport. “In Barcelona, we need courage, lucidity and, above all, the desire to hit the back of the net.” As far as another Serie A title is concerned, Allegri is taking nothing for granted with six games remaining. “Roma, on paper, can still get to 90 points. So we need to reach at least 91,” added Allegri, whose side sit on 80 from 32 games.
Roma’s slip-up at the Stadio Olimpico was not a huge surprise given Atalanta are enjoying their best season to date as the men from Bergamo defiantly look to deny AC Milan and Inter Milan a place in the Europa League. But, with a ninth runner-up place since they last won the scudetto in 2001 looming, Roma’s grip on second is under pressure from Napoli, who trailed by five points before hosting Udinese later on Saturday. “We’re going to have to work hard to keep Napoli at bay. They’re a top side,” said Roma coach Luciano Spalletti.
Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini was missing influential playmaker Papu Gomez, fellow forward Leonardo Spinazzola and goalkeeper Etrit Berisha for the visit to the capital. But they took the lead when Andrea Conti dribbled past Antonio Rudiger down the left flank and crossed for Kurtic to beat Wojciech Szczesny from 15 yards with a low volley. A limpid Roma resumed in move positive fashion after the break and when Mohamed Salah knocked a Mario Rui ball over the top for Dzeko, the Bosnian flirted with offside before turning in from five yards.