Serie A leaders Juventus scored twice in four minutes early in the first half to ease past Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday and open up a seven-point advantage at the top of the Italian league.
Alex Sandro opened the scoring for the hosts with a superb solo effort in the 15th minute and Juve extended their advantage four minutes later when Daniele Rugani rose high in the box to head home a corner.
Atalanta keeper Marco Sportiello was kept busy as Juve peppered half a dozen shots on goal in the first half hour when the visitors were camped in their own half.
Sportiello again came to the rescue to turn a Claudio Marchisio shot around the post but could do nothing when striker Mario Mandzukic crowned a superb all-round performance with a glancing header for Juve’s third just past the hour.
The Croatian was subsequently taken off with a knee injury.
Remo Freuler grabbed a goal for Atalanta with a fine volley in the 82nd minute but it came too late to make a difference as Juve ensured they bounced back from last week’s defeat to Genoa in fine style.
Juve are on 36 points from 15 matches, with second-placed AS Roma, on 29 from 14 games, taking on Lazio in the Rome derby on Sunday. Atalanta are in sixth on 28 points.
