Juventus have registered a 1-0 away victory over Palermo to go five points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
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Both sides went at each other in the early stages of the match and showed the urge to bag maximum points from this fixture.
Jasmin Kurtic tested Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon with a fierce shot taken 25 yards from goal. Then Fabrizio Miccoli found the target with a low volley that Buffon failed to keep out, but it was ruled out for offside.
The Italian champions also had their chances, with Mirko Vucinic toe-poking Claudio Marchisio's shot on to the Palermo post in the 35th minute.
© AP Photos
Minutes later Alessandro Matri was sent through by Arturo Vidal, but Samir Ujkani made a brave save to keep the score goalless at the break.
Juventus finally broke the deadlock five minutes after the half-time interval when Vucinic brilliantly controlled Andrea Pirlo's long ball to send Stephan Lichtsteiner through for a neat finish.
Matri had a good chance to double the Bianconeri's advantage on the hour mark only to shoot wide.
Three minutes later Pirlo's shot was comfortably saved by Ujkani.
Palermo went a man down in the 75th minute when Michel Morganella was sent off for a second bookable offence, and four minutes later Nicklas Bendtner had his goal ruled out for offside.
Subhankar Mondal
