Juventus defeated Chievo 2-0 at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.
With their Scudetto rivals Roma stuttering in their attempts to wrestle the Serie A crown from Massimiliano Allegri’s side the Bianconeri juggernaut continued on their way to a fourth consecutive title with goals from Paul Pogba and Stephan Lichtsteiner seeing off a resolute Gialloblu.
A flu outbreak had hit the Juventus squad during the week, most notably robbing them of Andrea Pirlo, but despite the absence of their midfield pivot the Bianconeri were on the front foot from the start as Arturo Vidal and Giorgio Chiellini went close with headers early on.
However, before the Old Lady could take full control Chievo were quick to assert themselves on their hosts as their efforts to restrict Juventus’ passing game made the match a more even contest.
The decision to operate an aggressive pressing game did have its downside though with defenders Nicolas Frey and Ervin Zukanovic booked within the opening 25 minutes.
Restricted to shots from distance Vidal eventually stung the palms of Albano Bizzarri, but the Gialloblu custodian was nearly punished for failing to hold the ball when forced to tip a Chiellini header from the resulting corner over the crossbar.
As the first-half reached it’s conclusion the only thing making an impact were the players’ heads as Alberto Paloschi and Leonardo Bonucci survived an accidental collision.
However, Chievo captain Frey was not so lucking when clattering into Patrice Evra and left the field bloodied and barely conscious with Cristiano Biraghi his replacement.
The second period began with the Bianconeri pressing but equally as wasteful as the first, although Claudio Marchisio’s low drive from distance was forgiven far easier than when Vidal blazed over unchallenged from 10 yards.
With the visitors confidence growing with every passing minute, the constant Juventus pressure eventually paid-off through a moment of brilliance from Pogba, shifting the ball onto his left on the edge of the box and driving past Bizzarri.
It was the Frenchman who then played a vital role in the second on 73 minutes controlling a Simone Padoin cross wonderfully in mid-air before firing a volley that the goalkeeper could only parry into the path of Lichtsteiner who swept home.
That was the moment at which any hope of taking something from the match looked to have been drained from Rolando Maran’s men and the final 10 minutes were largely played out with a sense of inevitability of another three points secured for the Bianconeri.
Up next for Juventus should be an equally as taxing challenge away to Udinese next Sunday, while the Gialloblu on the other hand will be hoping they can put their brush with the champions elect behind them when they visit a resurgent Napoli.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
