Paulo Dybala produced a man-of-the-match performance for Juventus as the Italian champions eased to a 2-0 victory over Atalanta BC in their Serie A meeting this afternoon.
The home side made a dominant start to the match and Leonardo Bonucci headed straight at Marco Sportiello, before the keeper denied Mario Mandzukic's close-range effort.
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Sportiello was soon called into action again minutes later to keep out Dybala's low strike.
Juventus finally made their pressure count in the 28th minute as Dybala fired a swerving effort from outside the box into the roof of the net.
The Argentine almost grabbed his second goal of the match on the stroke of half time, but his close-range attempt was stopped by the keeper.
However, Juventus did manage to double their lead four minutes into the second half as Mandzukic arrived inside the six-yard box to guide home Dybala's low cross.
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Atalanta were providing little threat to Gianluigi Buffon's goal, but Mauricio Pinilla almost found the net with a fierce drive from range that sailed inches wide of the far post.
Dybala soon came close to giving Juventus a three-goal lead when he curled a free kick inches wide, before the Argentine was denied by a one-handed save from Sportiello.
Any hopes that the visitors had of producing an unlikely comeback were dealt a major blow in the 73rd minute as Rafael Toloi was dismissed for picking up his second yellow card of the match.
Juventus were then given the chance to score a third goal after Dybala was brought down inside the box by Gabriel Paletta, but Paul Pogba saw the resulting penalty saved by Sportiello.
However, the failed spot kick mattered little as the Old Lady comfortably held on to take the three points and continue their rise up the table following a shaky start to the season.
Alex Meyers
