Leonardo Bonucci and Alvaro Morata were on target as Juventus defeated Inter 2-0 in the “Derby of Italy” to open a four-point lead at the top of Serie A on Sunday.
Bonucci scored for the hosts from close range in the 47th minute after Inter’s Danilo D’Ambrosio made a horrid mistake by heading Paulo Dybala’s free-kick across his own goal.
Substitute Morata added the second from the penalty spot after being tripped by Joao Miranda with six minutes to go.
Photo: EPA
Juve now have 61 points from 27 matches, four more than second-placed SSC Napoli, who were due to travel to ACF Fiorentina yesterday, and remain on course for a record fifth consecutive scudetto.
“We absolutely had to win,” Bonucci told Italian television. “Two consecutive draws would have been too many, we had to win to send out a message. We haven’t put pressure on Napoli, we are the leaders so we only care about our own results.”
Roberto Mancini’s inconsistent Inter are fifth on 48 points, four behind fourth-placed ACF Fiorentina and five adrift of AS Roma, who are third.
Photo: AP
After defeating title rivals Napoli 1-0 on Feb. 13, Juve’s club record 15-game winning streak was halted by the previous weekend’s draw with Bologna.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men dominated the opening stages on Sunday, with Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and former Inter midfielder Hernanes going close in the first 45 minutes.
The visitors adopted a defensive approach and fell behind after Bonucci’s far-post finish. Substitute Morata then made it 2-0, two minutes after coming on.
“We now have one less obstacle on our road to the title,” Allegri said. “The more games we win, the less we will still have to do.”
The sides meet again at the San Siro in Milan tomorrow in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, with the league leaders holding a 3-0 advantage.
Earlier, UC Sampdoria beat visiting Frosinone 2-0 for a key victory in their battle to avoid relegation.
Brazilian midfielder Fernando put Sampdoria ahead just before halftime and veteran Fabio Quagliarella scored midway through the second half.
While Frosinone remained in the relegation zone, Sampdoria moved five points clear with 11 matches remaining.
Elsewhere on Sunday, it was: US Citta di Palermo 0, Bologna 0; Carpi 1, Atalanta BC 1; AC Chievo Verona 1, Genoa 0; and Udinese 2, Hellas Verona 0.
Additional reporting by AP
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