Juvetus inch towards Serie A crown

4/17/2016 6:05:14 PM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Paul Pogba inspired a second-half blitz as Serie A champions Juventus put one hand on a record-equalling fifth title with a 4-0 win over Palermo on Sunday.

Juventus last achieved the feat of five straight league titles in 1935 but the Turin giants were given extra incentive when title challengers Napoli suffered their second reverse in three games with a 2-0 defeat to Inter Milan on Saturday.

It left Napoli in second at six points behind but Juventus turned the screw to leave Maurizio Sarri's men nine points adrift with five games remaining this season.

The grin on Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri's face said it all but he said it's still too early to celebrate.

"We have a nine-point lead and a good goals difference but the scudetto fight isn't over yet" Allegri told Mediaset. "We still have to win two games and draw one then we can talk about the title."

Juventus stretching their unbeaten run to 23 games broke the deadlock on 10 minutes when Germany midfielder Khedira controlled Pogba's cross on his chest before volleying past Stefano Sorrentino from close range.

Yet Palermo put their current woes to one side to create problems for the Bianconeri who were lucky to be leading at the half-time interval after being put off their stride by seeing midfielder Claudio Marchisio stretchered off with a suspected ruptured knee ligament.

Juve 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon got down low to smother Ivaylo Chochev's effort before at the other end Pogba saw his volley tipped just over by Sorrentino.

Palermo thought they had the leveller on the half hour but defender Andrea Barzagli did well to chase back and clear Aleksandar Trajkovski's delicate shot off the line after it had beaten Buffon.

Juve virtually wrapped up the points three minutes later when Cuadrado galloped past Achraf Lazaar to fire past Sorrentino into the top corner.

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