Juve beat 10-man Torino to claim 60th derby win
TURIN, Italy (AFP) –
Juventus’ forward Sebastian Giovinco celebrates after scoring a goal during the Seria A football match against Torino at the “Juventus Stadium” in Turin. Juventus beat 10-man Torino 3-0 to rack up their 60th win in the ‘Derby della Mole’
Claudio Marchisio and Sebastian Giovinco scored second half goals as Juventus beat 10-man Torino 3-0 to rack up their 60th win in the ‘Derby della Mole’ on Saturday.
Juventus dominated throughout but apart from a solid performance from French midfielder Paul Pogba the bianconeri’s first half display lacked real bite and even included a penalty miss from Andrea Pirlo.
Antonio Conte’s side made amends in the second half, however, with Giovinco’s 67th minute goal sandwiched by Marchisio’s brace on 57 and 84 minutes after the expulsion of Torino defender Kamel Glik.
Juventus’ 11th win in 14 games took their lead to five points over Napoli, who host Pescara on Sunday.
A week after suffering only their second defeat of the season, at AC Milan, and four days before a crucial Champions League decider against Shakhtar Donestk, Marchisio said: “It’s good to get back to winning ways.
“It wasn’t as easy as it looked, the derby is always a particular match but thankfully we came out on top and that will build our morale for the match in Donetsk.”
Both sides had their chances in the opening minutes however Juventus soon broke into their stride and Pogba came closest to the opener.
On 26 minutes the Frenchman was robbed of a sure goal when Torino ‘keeper Jean-Francois Gillet dropped the ball at his feet following Paolo De Ceglie’s cross from the left.
Pogba took possession and turned to shoot only for the referee to signal a freekick.
Juventus’ midfielder Claudio Marchisio (R) clashes with Torino’s defender Valerio Di Cesare during their Seria A football match between at the “Juventus Stadium” in Turin. Marchisio and Sebastian Giovinco scored second half goals as Juventus beat 10-man Torino 3-0 to rack up their 60th win in the ‘Derby della Mole’.
Moments later Pogba first-timed Vucinic’s square ball on the turn from the edge of the area to force Gillet into action, with Torino’s defence clearing up the rebound.
The Frenchman then hit a superb shot from 40 metres which dipped and had Gillet on his toes to tip over the bar.
Torino threatened briefly, but Rolando Bianchi’s 40-metre drive went high and wide and the visitors’ hopes of causing an upset suffered a blow when centre-back Kamel Glik was shown a straight red card for a tough challenge on Emanuele Giaccherini.
It looked to be the right decision and Torino coach Giampiero Ventura admitted: “It signalled game over for us. In Serie A it’s almost impossible to get a result with a man down.”
Assistant Juve coach Angelo Alessio said: “It was a sure red card. Giaccherini was lucky he had one foot up or he would have suffered a serious injury.”
Ventura replaced Meggiorini with Valerio Di Cesare, but moments later Juve won a penalty when Pogba’s gallop into the box came to an abrupt halt.
The referee pointed to the spot, only for Pirlo to send a wild shot over the crossbar.
Juventus’ midfielder Paul Pogba (L) fights for the ball with Torino’s goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet during their Seria A football match at the “Juventus Stadium” in Turin. Juventus won 3-0.
Nicklas Bendtner replaced Giaccherini at the re-start and had an immediate impact, the Dane heading on Vucinic’s chip for Pogba at the back post only for the big Frenchman to nod over.
From a corner on 52 minutes Leonardo Bonucci headed over the bar and then Giovinco sent in a delightful chip which Vucinic hit past Gillet’s post.
Minutes later Juve’s persistence was rewarded when Marchisio bent to meet a right wing cross and send a bouncing header past Gillet.
Juventus were cruising and when Giovinco latched on to a square ball on the edge of the area the ‘Atomic Ant’ took one touch before sending an angled drive through the legs of Danilo D’Ambrosio and past Gillet for Juve’s second.
Gillet had to look smart a minute later when Pogba rose high to nod towards goal and then Bendtner missed a great chance on 73 minutes when he sent Marchisio’s chip straight at Gillet from close range
Torino were suffering, and Marchisio put the finishing touches on Juve’s 60th win from 135 derbies when he sent a sublime shot past Gillet from 20 metres out after the ball was chested into his path by Vucinic.