Juventus defeated second-placed Lazio 2-0 at home yesterday to take another huge step towards their fourth straight Serie A title and boost their confidence for Wednesday’s crunch Champions League clash in Monaco.
First-half goals by Carlos Tevez and Leonardo Bonucci allowed Juve to open up a 15-point lead on Lazio, who saw their eight-game winning streak come to a halt.
Roma could regain second place if they defeat Atalanta today but would still be 13 points adrift of Juventus with seven games left.
Juve pulled ahead after 17 minutes when an Arturo Vidal header against the run of play sent Tevez through. The Argentina striker’s angled left-foot shot from inside the box proved unstoppable for goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.
Tevez celebrated his 18th league goal of the season by flapping his arms to imitate a chicken, a reference Boca Juniors fans use as a derogatory nickname for their arch rivals River Plate.
His gesture will fuel media reports that Tevez is heading back home to Argentina’s Boca, his boyhood club, at the end of this term.
Twelve minutes later, defender Bonucci took a pass from Andrea Pirlo just inside Lazio’s half and was allowed to run freely towards goal before firing a low shot from the edge of the area that flew past Marchetti.
Lazio ended the game with 10 men as Danilo Cataldi was shown a red card after tackling Tevez from behind in the 89th minute.
Juventus and Lazio are also set to face each other in the Italian Cup final on June 7, unless Juve reach the Champions League final on June 6, in which case the domestic showpiece will be rescheduled.
Juve lead Monaco 1-0 ahead of Wednesday’s quarter-final second leg.
Serie A
Played yesterday
Sampdoria 0
Cesena 0
Att: 21,191.
Juventus 2
Tevez 17; Bonucci 28;
Lazio 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 38,000.
Red card: Cataldi (L) 89.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Juventus | 31 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 59 | 15 | 73 |
| Lazio | 31 | 18 | 4 | 9 | 58 | 30 | 58 |
| Roma | 30 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 41 | 22 | 57 |
| Napoli | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 50 | 37 | 50 |
| Sampdoria | 31 | 12 | 14 | 5 | 38 | 31 | 50 |
| Fiorentina | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 43 | 34 | 49 |
| Genoa | 30 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 42 | 34 | 44 |
| Torino | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 35 | 32 | 43 |
| Milan | 30 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 44 | 37 | 42 |
| Inter | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 46 | 37 | 41 |
| Palermo | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 44 | 38 |
| Sassuolo | 30 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 36 | 45 | 35 |
| Chievo | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 22 | 31 | 35 |
| Udinese | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 33 | 41 | 34 |
| Empoli | 30 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 30 | 36 | 33 |
| Verona | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 36 | 54 | 33 |
| Atalanta | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 26 | 41 | 29 |
| Cesena | 31 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 28 | 53 | 23 |
| Cagliari | 30 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 35 | 58 | 21 |
| Parma (-3) | 30 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 24 | 56 | 12 |
Playing today – 15.00
Cagliari vs Napoli - 18.00
Chievo vs Udinese
Empoli vs Parma
Inter vs Milan - 20.45
Palermo vs Genoa
Roma vs Atalanta
Sassuolo vs Torino - 12.30
Tomorrow
Fiorentina vs Verona - 20.45
Top scorers
18 goals: Tevez (Juventus).
16 goals: Menez (Milan), Icardi (Inter).
15 goals: Toni (Verona).
Next fixtures
Saturday: 18.00 Udinese vs Milan; 20.45 Inter vs Roma.
Sunday: 12.30 Atalanta vs Empoli. 15.00 Genoa vs Cesena; Verona vs Sassuolo; Lazio vs Chievo; Parma vs Palermo; Torino vs Juventus. 18.00 Fiorentina vs Cagliari. 20.45 Napoli vs Sampdoria.
Serie B
Bologna vs Spezia - 0-0
Carpi vs Brescia - 3-0
Crotone vs Lanciano - 1-1
Pescara vs Modena - 1-0
Ternana vs Perugia - 0-0
Trapani vs Bari - 1-1
Playing today
Latina vs Catania - 15.00
Livorno vs Frosinone - 15.00
Varese vs Avellino - 15.00
Tomorrow
Entella vs Pro Vercelli - 20.30
Standings: Carpi 74; Vicenza, Bologna 59; Frosinone 57; Perugia 54; Avellino 52; Pescara, Livorno, Spezia 51; Virtus Lanciano 48; Bari 46; Ternana 44; Trapani 43; Modena 42; Catania, Latina, Crotone 41; Pro Vercelli, Entella 40; Cittadella 39; Brescia 32; Varese 28.