Serie A wrap: Juventus storm back to form

Juventus returned to winning ways in the Serie A with an emphatic 6-1 thrashing of Pescara at Stadio Adriatico on Saturday.

Antonio Conte’s side were irresistible just a game after their undefeated league run ended at 49 games, with Fabio Quagliarella bagging a hat-trick in a scintillating team performance.

Arturo Vidal broke the deadlock after nine minutes with a well-struck finish, before Quagliarella made it 2-0 with an equally clinical strike from inside the area on 22 minutes.

Pescara threatened to make a game of it when Emmanuel Cascione halved the deficit with his head three minutes later, but an acrobatic overhead kick from Kwadwo Asamoah on the half-hour mark restored Juventus’ two-goal advantage.

Sebastian Giovinco volleyed home a fourth goal after combining superbly with Quaglierella, who then bagged his second with a deadly finish just before half-time.

The rout did not end there, with Quagliarella firing home a magnificent volley from a corner on 53 minutes to cap off a fine individual display.

The win moves Juventus four points clear at the top of the table from nearest challengers Inter Milan, who are in action on Sunday away to Atalanta having ended Juventus’ streak last weekend.

In Saturday’s other match, Cagliari were held to a goalless draw by Catania at the Stadio Is Arenas.

Mariano Andujar pulled off a string of great saves to earn a point for Catania after the visitors had pressed early.

Cagliari’s best chance came moments before half time when Marco Sau rounded the keeper only for Andujar to scramble back and parry an angled drive away from the open net.

From the resulting corner, Sau again got good power on a header but was denied by Andujar’s lightening reflexes.