Juventus vs Atalanta Serie A Match Report

Juventus cruised to victory over a timid Atalanta side on Sunday, running out 3-0 winners over their mid-table visitors.

Goals from Marko Vucinic, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio in the opening half hour of the match set Antonio Conte's men on their way to a routine victory, as well as extending their run of clean sheets to five games.

With Inter having fallen to a narrow defeat away to Lazio earlier in the round, the Bianconeri had the chance to open up a seven point gap with the Nerazzurri. Atalanta meanwhile remained rooted in mid-table, regardless of results elsewhere.

The hosts made a barnstorming start to the game, and took just two minutes to open the scoring. Mirko Vucinic was played in by a crisp through-ball from Giovinco, and the striker composedly took a touch to carve out a pocket of space, before curling past a helpless Andrea Consigli.

Atalanta very nearly leveled matters just moments later, only for German Denis to be brilliantly denied by Gianluigi Buffon. The Argentinian was allowed to run through on goal after Andrea Barzagli had failed to deal with a slicing pass, but was unable to show the finishing instinct which had seen his opposite number open the scoring minutes earlier.

The visitors continued to pry for an opening around the Juventus area, but saw their deliveries parried by a resilient Juventus back-line. Maxi Moralez was next to test Buffon, but his effort from range failed to trouble the Bianconeri skipper.

A moment of class from Andrea Pirlo then doubled the scoring in favour of the hosts, after Arturo Vidal did well to draw a foul just outside the area. The Italy international lined up to take the resultant free kick, and fired home with a sumptuous curling effort into the top corner.

Vucinic spurned two clear chances to add to his goal tally shortly after. A scramble on the edge of the box allowed the forward to get a wayward shot away, before the Montenegrin's effort at the end of some delightful link-up play over the left flank and into the area was deflected to safety.

Juventus were not to be denied a third however, and Claudio Marchisio was on hand to further extend his side's lead just before the half-hour mark. The Italian midfielder was given far too much time to compose himself outside the area, and responded by rifling past a despairing Consigli.

Atalanta were then dealt another blow minutes later, with Thomas Manfredini sent off after receiving his second yellow card of the game. The Italian was unfortunate to see his final foul warrant a dismissal, but the referee saw enough in it to send the defender for an early shower.

Juventus came out after the break in full control of proceedings, with Pirlo dictating play against his side's 10-man visitors. The midfielder very nearly saw his compatriot Giovinco snatch a fourth for the Bianconeri, but the forward's palm-stinging effort failed to find its way into the net.

The diminutive striker did put the ball in the net just before the hour mark, but saw his effort ruled offside. Ezequiel Schelotto then had a half-chance to bag a goal for Atalanta at the other end, but blasted well wide from the edge of the area.

The linesman was again Juventus' foil shortly later, with Fabio Quagliarella's effort off a rebound ruled out after the striker had strayed marginally offside as Pirlo tested Consiglio with a rifling effort.

Giovinco then came close to extending his side's lead after working his way through the Atalanta defense, but the Italian's low effort was well wide and failed to threaten the visitors' goal. The Italian forward spurned two further chances to get on the scoresheet shortly after, with Consigli parrying the 25-year old on both occasions.

The win sees Juventus move provisionally seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table, but a win for Napoli later in the round would see their advantage cut to five.

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Source: Goal