An inspirational Paul Pogba helped Juventus extend their lead at the top of Serie A to five points over Lazio and six over Napoli with two glorious goals in a 4-0 win over Udinese.
The French midfielder broke the deadlock with a stunning 35-yard effort before topping that with another goal from long range to make it two.
The floodgates opened, with Mirko Vucinic and Alessandro Matri also getting in on the act as Antonio Conte's men took full advantage of Lazio's draw at Palermo by returning to form in style at the Juventus Stadium. Juve had two chances to go ahead inside the opening 20 minutes with Daniele Padelli first turning Arturo Vidal's shot over the crossbar and then denying Emanuele Giaccherini with his legs.
Udinese then set about frustrating their hosts with a strong defensive display, which succeeded in keeping them at what appeared to be a safe distance from their goal. Pogba disproved that theory in the 41st minute, though, when he struck the ball on the volley from 35 yards out with the ball curling and dipping wickedly before grazing the underside of the crossbar on its way past Padelli.
It needed another moment of inspiration from the Frenchman to make it two in the 66th minute. With the ball at his feet this time - and a few yards further away from goal - the 19-year-old unleashed another unstoppable shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Udinese's hopes were dashed and not even the introduction of Antonio Di Natale could help them. Juve started to turn their dominance into goals with Vucinic turning in at the near post to beat Padelli, who got a weak hand to the ball but could not prevent it from crossing the line in the 72nd minute.
Matri sealed the rout eight minutes later with Pogba getting the ball rolling, sending Vucinic clear and he played in Matri to thread his shot through Padelli's legs.
Lazio stumble to draw
Earlier, Juve's closest challengers Lazio stumbled to a 2-2 draw against Palermo. The Biancocelesti needed a late Hernanes penalty to take a point at the lowly side after being undone by two second-half goals in as many minutes.
Arevalo Rios cancelled out Sergio Floccari's early opener with 20 minutes to go and Palermo took a shock lead moments later through Paulo Dybala. Gian Piero Gasperini's strugglers failed to hold on, though, as Hernanes converted an 84th-minute spot-kick after Floccari was felled in the area by substitute Ezequiel Munoz.
The French midfielder broke the deadlock with a stunning 35-yard effort before topping that with another goal from long range to make it two.
Udinese then set about frustrating their hosts with a strong defensive display, which succeeded in keeping them at what appeared to be a safe distance from their goal. Pogba disproved that theory in the 41st minute, though, when he struck the ball on the volley from 35 yards out with the ball curling and dipping wickedly before grazing the underside of the crossbar on its way past Padelli.
It needed another moment of inspiration from the Frenchman to make it two in the 66th minute. With the ball at his feet this time - and a few yards further away from goal - the 19-year-old unleashed another unstoppable shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Udinese's hopes were dashed and not even the introduction of Antonio Di Natale could help them. Juve started to turn their dominance into goals with Vucinic turning in at the near post to beat Padelli, who got a weak hand to the ball but could not prevent it from crossing the line in the 72nd minute.
Matri sealed the rout eight minutes later with Pogba getting the ball rolling, sending Vucinic clear and he played in Matri to thread his shot through Padelli's legs.
Lazio stumble to draw
Earlier, Juve's closest challengers Lazio stumbled to a 2-2 draw against Palermo. The Biancocelesti needed a late Hernanes penalty to take a point at the lowly side after being undone by two second-half goals in as many minutes.
Arevalo Rios cancelled out Sergio Floccari's early opener with 20 minutes to go and Palermo took a shock lead moments later through Paulo Dybala. Gian Piero Gasperini's strugglers failed to hold on, though, as Hernanes converted an 84th-minute spot-kick after Floccari was felled in the area by substitute Ezequiel Munoz.
