Juventus 4 Atalanta 1: Tevez, Pogba, Vidal and Llorente keep Old Lady top of Serie A as Roma up the ante



League leaders and defending champions Juventus won 4-1 at Atalanta on Sunday but Roma eased to a 4-0 victory over bottom club Catania to maintain their title challenge.

Carlos Tevez fired Juve into the lead in the sixth minute but Maxi Moralez’s strike saw goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s unbeaten streak end at 744 minutes.

Second-half goals from Paul Pogba, Fernando Llorente and Arturo Vidal secured victory.



Classy performer: Carlos Tevez (left) has been a consistent figure as Juventus chase the Serie A title

MATCH FACTS

Atalanta: Consigli, Stendardo, Del Grosso (Cazzola, 68), Brivio, Migliaccio, Bonaventura (Livaja, 68), Moralez, Carmona, Cigarini, Raimondi (Kone, 87), Denis Subs not used: Sportiello, Scaloni, Canini, Giorgi, Baselli, Gagliadini, Brienza, Marilungo, De Luca Goal: Moralez 15

Juventus: Buffon, Chiellini, Barzagli, Bonucci, Lichtsteiner, Pogba (Peluso, 82), Marchisio, Asamoash, Vidal (Padoin, 81), Tevez (Quagliarella), Llorente Subs not used: Storari, Rubinho, Caceres, Ogbonna, De Ceglie, Motta, Isla, Giovinco Goals: Tevez 6, Pogba 46, Llorente 75,

Vidal 79 Att: 14,000 Ref: D. Celi



Juventus had won their past eight games, keeping clean sheets in all, and got off to the perfect start when Vidal’s pass was deflected into Tevez’s path before the forward fired past Andrea Consigli.

Atalanta leveled when Giacomo Bonaventura forced his way into the right of the penalty area and cut back for Maxi Moralez to fire in off the inside of the left upright.

It was the first goal Buffon had conceded in 744 minutes of football. Curiously that matched exactly Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis’ record at the beginning of the season. Both are seventh in the all-time list.



Juventus restored their lead almost immediately after half-time. Llorente touched on Kwadwo Asamoah’s cross for Pogba to slide the ball in from close range.

And Llorente sealed the match in the 75th after collecting Giorgio Chiellini’s through-ball and beating defender Guilio Migliaccio.

Vidal added a fourth four minutes later, tapping in Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross.

World-class duo: Arturo Vidal (left) and Paul Pogba are among the best midfielders in Europe Defensive strength: Defender Giorgio Chiellini (right) is a key player for both club and country Midfield battle: Paul Pogba (right) vies for possession with Atalanta's Cristian Raimondi