Vidal guides Juve to controversial Catania win

MILAN, Italy (AFP) –

Juventus’s midfielder Arturo Vidal of Chile celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match at Massimino Stadium in Catania. Champions Juventus reinforced their lead at the top of Serie A with a controversial 1-0 win away to struggling Catania, who had a legitimate goal disallowed and finished the match with ten men.

Champions Juventus reinforced their lead at the top of Serie A Sunday with a controversial 1-0 win away to struggling Catania as a rampant Inter Milan moved into second place, four points behind.

Former Arsenal man Nicklas Bendtner made his full Juventus debut for Antonio Conte’s side, partnering Mirko Vucinic ahead of a five-man midfield which also featured French teenager Paul Pogba.

It fell to Chilean international Arturo Vidal to give the Old Lady of Turin a 57th minute lead, which appeared to be safe when Catania defender Giovanni Marchese was sent off mid-way through the second half.

However well before then the Sicilians appeared to have suffered an injustice when Argentine striker Ruben Bergessio tapped the rebound from Nicolas Spolli’s glancing header past Gianluigi Buffon in the Juve goal.

Buffon, celebrating his 500th Serie A appearance, looked to have been fairly beaten but Catania’s celebrations were cut short when the referee disallowed it after consulting with his assistant.

Catania reacted furiously and, after club president Antonino Pulvirenti was eventually sent from the bench for dissent, five of the club’s players picked up yellow cards as their frustration came to the fore.

In comments to Sky Italia, Pulvirenti complained: “Bergessio’s goal was cancelled by the Juve bench.

“There were seven officials out there, and none of them saw a thing.”

Juventus president Giuseppe Moratta brushed off claims which seemed to suggest foul play on the part of the officials.

“These accusations don’t even deserve a response,” he said. “The referee was wrong but we would have won on points.”

Juventus are now unbeaten in 48 matches and could see title rivals Napoli, who are missing top striker Edinson Cavani, fall six points off the pace if they lose to Chievo later Sunday when Roma also host Udinese.

Inter Milan’s Argentine forward Diego Milito (C) celebrates scoring during the Italian Serie A football match Bologna vs Inter at Bologna’s Dall’Ara stadium. Inter won 3-1.

Inter confirmed they are still on the ascendancy with a 3-1 win away to Bologna which, thanks to Lazio‘s 2-0 reverse at Fiorentina, moved them up to second.

And it came largely thanks to their Argentine connection.

It was Esteban Cambiasso’s free kick that giant Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia headed past Bologna keeper Federico Agliardi for their opener on 27 minutes.

Inter doubled their lead when Rodrigo Palacio’s pass to fellow striker Diego Milito required his fellow Argentine to simply tap the ball into the net to end his recent goal famine.

Bologna reduced the arrears five minutes later when defender Nicolo Cherubin beat Slovenian Samir Handanovic from Alessandro Diamanti’s short corner.

But Inter put the result beyond doubt just after the hour when Palacio found Cambiasso unmarked and the Argentine beat Agliardi low to his right with a well-placed shot.

Lazio began the day in third place, four points behind Juve but dropped to fourth as La Viola grabbed a precious 2-0 win.

Serbian striker Adem Ljajic broke the deadlock with a fine individual effort in first half injury time and, as Lazio fought in vain for the equaliser tempers frayed.

Italian Cristian Ledesma was sent off for a second bookable offence following a nasty challenge in the 75th minute and seven minutes later fellow midfielder, Brazilian Hernanes, was shown a straight red for reacting violently to a challenge.

Fiorentina icon Luca Toni, who was signed on the summer transfer deadline, sealed the win when he used his physique to hold off the defence and beat Argentine keeper Albano Bizzarri in the 90th minute.

Elsewhere Cagliari stunned Sampdoria 1-0 in Genoa while Parma gave their ailing campaign a boost with a shock 3-1 win away to Torino.