Chievo 1 - 2 Juventus: Miralem Pjanic's late goal sends Juventus clear at top of Serie A

Posted Monday, November 07, 2016 by PA

Miralem Pjanic fired reigning champions Juventus seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table with his late free-kick at Chievo.

The Bianconeri led through Mario Mandzukic's second-half opener until substitute Sergio Pellissier beat Gianluigi Buffon, who was making his 600th Serie A appearance, from the penalty spot.

Pjanic made it 2-1 with 15 minutes remaining, ensuring Roma can only close to within four points of the leaders if they trump Bologna later on Sunday night.

Juve suffered an early setback when Andrea Barzagli went down injured - he was replaced by fellow defender Leonardo Bonucci - but they soon took control.

Mandzukic shot over just before the half-hour mark and the Croatian nodded Alex Sandro's cross wide minutes later.

Gonzalo Higuain, a recent goal hero against Napoli and Lyon, was denied by Stefano Sorrentino's gloves when meeting another Alex Sandro pass and he almost scored in the 43rd minute when taking possession at the near post.

Eight minutes after the restart Juve broke the deadlock, Mandzukic collecting Juan Cuadrado's assist from deep before beating Sorrentino with a low finish.

Buffon wanted to keep a clean sheet on his big day but it was not to be as, after repelling Lucas Castro from five metres, he had no answer to Pellissier's spot-kick, awarded following a foul by Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Chievo's joy was short-lived, however, as Pjanic's 75th-minute free-kick sent all three points back to Turin.

Cuadrado might have rubber-stamped the victory at the death, but he could not finish at the end of a marvellous mazy dribble.