Paulo Dybala haunted his former club with two goals and an assist as Juventus routed struggling Palermo 4-1 to move 10 points clear at the top of Serie A.
The champions cruised to their 29th consecutive league victory at Juventus Stadium and extended their advantage over Roma – who play Torino on Sunday – at the summit.
Claudio Marchisio put Juve ahead early on with his first Serie A goal since May 2015 and Dybala scored a brilliant free-kick to put his old side on the ropes before the break.
Gonzalo Higuain’s 19th league goal of the season – and 12th in his last 10 games – then put the result beyond doubt just after the hour mark, the in-form striker converting a pass from Dybala.
Dybala himself added a fourth with a minute remaining, before Ivaylo Chochev grabbed a late consolation for Palermo.
Juve have now won six straight league games and have impressive momentum going into next Wednesday’s crucial Champions League last-16 first leg away to Porto.
Palermo, meanwhile, remain eight points from safety in 18th position and have lost their last 10 Serie A meetings against Juve.
Juve made five changes perhaps with the Porto game in mind, but dominated from the off, with Dybala curling a 25-yard free-kick against the foot of the post.
The hosts were ahead in the 13th minute, Marchisio taking one touch and firing a left-footed strike high into the net from eight yards after Gonzalo Higuain’s initial shot had been saved by Josip Posavec.
10 – Juventus have scored 10 goals in the first 15 mins of play in home games, at least 3 more than any other team in this Serie A. Stadium.
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 17, 2017
Gianluigi Buffon kept out Ilija Nestorovski’s effort from a tight angle at the other end, before Juve almost doubled their advantage when Sami Khedira diverted Marko Pjaca’s cross towards goal, only for Haitam Aleesami to hack clear off the goal-line.
Having come close earlier, Dybala made no mistake with his next free-kick opportunity from a similar distance.
After Bruno Henrique had fouled Stefano Sturaro, the forward curled a magnificent effort past Posavec five minutes before half-time.
The second half got off to a quiet start before Juve got their third after 63 minutes, Higuain coolly lofting his finish over Posavec having been set up by Dybala’s throughball.
“I told you I’d score tonight!” #JuvePalermo #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/wowsuKfrHJ
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) February 17, 2017
Palermo breathed a sigh of relief late on when keeper Posavec got back on his feet after what had looked like a serious head injury incurred in a nasty accidental clash with team-mate Edoardo Goldaniga.
Juve added gloss to the scoreline when Dybala struck with a low finish after Higuain had robbed Goldaniga and set him up, before Chochev’s thumping header from substitute Alessandro Diamanti’s inswinging cross ended the hosts’ run of five straight league clean sheets in injury time.
Key Opta Stats:
– Juventus have scored with 14 different players in Serie A this season, the joint best tally along with Lazio.
– Claudio Marchisio scored after 34 Serie A games without a goal – his last coming 643 days ago against Inter.
– Paulo Dybala scored his second free kick in this season’s Serie A, the joint best.
– Leonardo Bonucci played his 300th game for Juventus (W193, D66, L41).
– Juventus have hit the woodwork 13 times in Serie A this season, more than any other team.
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