Juventus 1 : 0 Atalanta - Juve celebrate title with a win

Posted Tuesday, May 06, 2014 by PA

Juventus celebrated their third consecutive Serie A title triumph with a narrow win over Atalanta on Monday night.

Simone Padoin scored the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute as Juve clinched their 31st victory of the season - a record in Italy's top flight.

The Turin club had sealed their 30th Scudetto without kicking a ball on Sunday when Roma lost 4-1 against Catania.

The unofficial celebrations took place 24 hours earlier when Juve players staged an impromptu party in the team's hotel that lasted into the early hours of the morning.

But there were few signs of a hangover as Juve started the match with plenty of energy.

Sebastian Giovinco's bullet strike from 30 yards went just wide of the far post.

Juve almost went in front in the 26th minute when Daniel Osvaldo's header from Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross forced a good save from Atalanta goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.

At the other end, Daniele Baselli was first to test Juve's Marco Storari with a hard drive which the goalkeeper saved.

Storari was in the line-up with coach Antonio Conte electing to rest first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

That was one of several changes which might have given Atalanta hope, but they passed up a fine chance to take the lead before half-time when German Denis was unable to provide the finishing touch to Maxi Moralez's dangerous cross.

Juve had the first chance of the second half when Osvaldo fed substitute Fabio Quagliarella in the box and his right-footed effort went wide.

Shortly after the hour mark, Paul Pogba's powerful attempt from outside the area went just over the crossbar.

Juve's top scorer Carlos Tevez received a standing ovation in the 65th minute as he came on as a substitute.

The home side looked more dangerous from then on and Consigli was twice called into action to clear close-range attempts from Quagliarella and Pogba.

The hosts finally broke the deadlock when Pogba set up Padoin and the Italian midfielder hit a right-footed shot from the centre of the area past Consigli.

Juve, who have now won all of their 18 games at home, held on to continue their bid to break the 100-point barrier in Serie A.

They have 96 points with two games remaining.