Juventus maintain unbeaten start

Serie A leaders brush aside Palermo to seal 23rd successive win at home in the league; Roma play goalless draw.

Vidal gave Juventus the much-needed win in the 32nd minute [AFP]

Serie A leaders Juventus put their European problems behind them with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to a tame Palermo side.

Midfielder Arturo Vidal and forward Fernando Llorente, with his first goal of the season, scored in each half to give Juve, champions for the last three seasons, their 23rd successive home win in the league.

Juventus have struggled in the Champions League, losing their last two games to Atletico Madrid and Olympiakos, but faced no such problems against the harmless Sicilians as they enjoyed 65 percent of the possession.

The visitors only threatened briefly during the first half when Franco Vazquez had one effort deflected over the bar and then skimmed the woodwork with a diving header from the resulting corner.

Meanwhile, thirty-seven-year old Antonio Di Natale scored his fifth goal of the season, an exquisite curled effort in the sixth minute, to set Udinese on the way to a 2-0 home win over Atalanta, Cyril Thereau scoring the second.

Chile forward Mauricio Pinilla missed a second-half penalty but then scored an 84th winner as Genoa beat Chievo 2-1, handing the home team’s new coach Rolando Maran a losing start.

Juventus, who have dropped only two points, have 22 from eight games, three ahead of AS Roma who drew 0-0 at Sampdoria on Saturday.

Source: Reuters