JUVENTUS put their Champions League struggles behind them to consolidate fourth place in Serie A on Sunday with a 2-0 win over basement club Salernitana, while Roma city rivals Lazio surprised 3-0 with three goals in the first half.
Days after their 3-0 European victory over Villarreal, Juventus kept up their pressure to regain the Serie A title with a victory that moved them one point behind champions Inter Milan who are third, with a game in hand, and were held 1-1. home of Fiorentina on Saturday.
Leader AC Milan have a 3-point advantage over Naples, with Juve seven points at the top.
“There was a risk that the Champions League elimination would hit us because no one expected us to leave,” said Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri.
“The boys responded well. It was important to win, and to stretch the gap over those who pursue us.”
In Rome, Tammy Abraham grabbed a tension, and shot the opener in the first minute at the Stadio Olimpico.
The English striker quickly added a second before Lorenzo Pellegrini’s impressive free-kick.
“Today was really special, because it seems like the players were able to carry out everything we had planned on the pitch,” said Roma coach Jose Mourinho, whose side lost their first derby 3-2.
Roma climbed to fifth at the expense of Lazio, who fell to sixth and were able to slip out of European places, with Atalanta just one point behind before playing in Bologna later Sunday.
In Turin, Allegri’s youths have extended their unbeaten league run to 16 matches and have a chance to finish third when they host Inter in their next match after the international break.
Dusan Vlahovic opened the scoring for Paulo Dybala in the fifth minute for the Argentine to score his first goal in two months, on the eve of sluggish negotiations over a possible contract extension.
The Argentine, whose current deal comes to an end in June, will only return after a few weeks with thigh and hip injuries in the late stages of the loss against Villarreal.
This time, he played just under an hour and came to a standing ovation from fans at Juventus Stadium.
Vlahovic scored a header on a Mattia De Sciglio cross just before half-time to tie Lazio’s Ciro Immobile at the top of the scoring charts with 21 goals this campaign.
Captain Giorgio Chiellini is back from a calf problem less than a week before Italy’s World Cup qualifier play-off.
Abraham shines in the derby
Roma are now unbeaten in nine league games after a brilliant derby display.
Abraham gave Mourinho’s men the perfect start, bundling the ball over the line after Pellegrini Corner jumped straight from the crossbar.
He added a second finish after 22 minutes to double the lead.
Pellegrini hit a superb free-kick from 25 yards out into the top corner to put Lazio ahead before the break.
Abraham, who has been named in England squad for the upcoming international break, has now scored 23 goals and 40 appearances in all competitions for Roma this season.
“I demand a lot from Tammy because I know his potential,” Mourinho said.
“Today is what Tammy is capable of and he has to keep playing like that. I do not think the goals are because you can shoot one day and miss another, but he has to have the attitude he has shown in every game today.” – AFP
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