Played
December 16, 2012 9:00 AM EST
Juventus Stadium — Torino
Referee: D. Massa
Attendance: 38625
December 16, 2012 9:00 AM EST
Juventus Stadium — Torino
Referee: D. Massa
Attendance: 38625
Top of the Match
Andrea Pirlo
Juventus
Juventus
Andrea Pirlo
Juventus
Juventus
Flop of the Match
Thomas Manfredini
Atalanta
Atalanta
Thomas Manfredini
Atalanta
Atalanta
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Juventus 3-0 Atalanta: Bianconeri blitz Atalanta
Three goals in the first half hour of the game set the tone for a comfortable victory for the Bianconeri over El Dea, who had a man sent off early on.
By Renger Dotinga
AFP
Juventus cruised to victory over a timid Atalanta side on Sunday, running out a 3-0 winner over the mid-table visitor.
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 home side made a barnstorming start to the game, and took just two minutes to open the scoring. Vucinic handed Antonio Conte's side an early lead, after the Montenegrin had been played in by a crisp through ball from Giovinco. The striker then 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 visiting side continued to pry for an opening around the Juventus area, but saw its 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 Pirlo then doubled the scoring in favor of the home side, 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 was not to be denied a third however, and 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 was then given 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 of the break in full control of proceedings, with Pirlo dictating play. 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 after, with Fabio Quagliarella's effort off a rebound ruled out. The striker had strayed marginally offside as Pirlo tested Consiglio with a rifling effort, and the home side was thus made to wait for a fourth goal.
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 score sheet shortly after, with Consigli parrying the 25-year old on both occasions.
The win sees Juventus provisionally seven points clear atop the Serie A table, but a win for Napoli later in the round would see the advantage cut to five.
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 home side made a barnstorming start to the game, and took just two minutes to open the scoring. Vucinic handed Antonio Conte's side an early lead, after the Montenegrin had been played in by a crisp through ball from Giovinco. The striker then 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 visiting side continued to pry for an opening around the Juventus area, but saw its 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 Pirlo then doubled the scoring in favor of the home side, 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 was not to be denied a third however, and 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 was then given 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 of the break in full control of proceedings, with Pirlo dictating play. 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 after, with Fabio Quagliarella's effort off a rebound ruled out. The striker had strayed marginally offside as Pirlo tested Consiglio with a rifling effort, and the home side was thus made to wait for a fourth goal.
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 score sheet shortly after, with Consigli parrying the 25-year old on both occasions.
The win sees Juventus provisionally seven points clear atop the Serie A table, but a win for Napoli later in the round would see the advantage cut to five.
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Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Edinson Cavani Striker Napoli |
29 | 7 |
|
Antonio Di Natale Striker Udinese |
23 | 4 |
|
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo Striker Roma |
16 | 2 |
|
Stephan El Shaarawy Midfielder Milan |
16 | 0 |
|
Germán Denis Striker Atalanta |
15 | 5 |
