Serie A: Cagliari 1 Juventus 4

Fernando Llorente struck twice as Juventus came from behind to beat 10-man Cagliari 4-1 and record their 11th successive Serie A victory.

Mauricio Pinilla put Cagliari in front midway through the first half with a powerful finish before Llorente’s precise header levelled matters before the break.

But three goals in seven second-half minutes sunk Cagliari.

Claudio Marchisio scored Juve’s second in front of Manchester United manager David Moyes, in attendance as he reportedly mulls over a move for the Italy international, while Llorente and Stephan Lichtsteiner tapped in from close range to guarantee the points, and ended Cagliari’s seven-match unbeaten run, who saw Pinilla sent off late on.

Both sides each made one enforced change from last week. Antonio Conte replaced the suspended Andrea Barzagli with Martin Caceres, while Cagliari drafted in Daniele Dessena in place of Radja Nainggolan, who departed for Roma on Wednesday.

Juve went into the game in a phenomenal form with 10 straight wins and created the first chance early on when Lichtsteiner swung a cross onto the head of Llorente but the effort was straight down the throat of Antonio Adan.

But it was Cagliari who drew first blood after 20 minutes. Andrea Cossu’s cross was flicked and found Pinilla in space 12 yards out and he lashed past the helpless Gianluigi Buffon – only the second time he had conceded since the middle of October.

The home side went into the game with the champions unbeaten in seven and Pinilla unleashed a 25-yard drive that forced Buffon into a sprawling save.

But Juventus had dropped just four points away from home going into the game and drew level after 31 minutes when Llorente met Lichtsteiner’s superb cross 12 yards out and powered a header into the top corner.

They were indebted to Buffon moments later who made a miraculous save to keep the scores level. Nicola Murru’s left wing cross found Dessena six yards out but his low header was somehow repelled by the Italian goalkeeper with Lichtsteiner wasting a golden chance to put Juve ahead just before the break.

Conte’s men started to take control, with Carlos Tevez forcing Adan into a fine low save, but their pressure finally told after 72 minutes when Marchisio found space 30 yards out to fire in a fierce effort that Adan could only help on its way.

The win was secured three minutes later when Lichtsteiner’s low cross was tapped in from close range by Llorente for his seventh league goal this season.

And Switzerland international Lichtsteiner got on the scoresheet himself 10 minutes from time when Adan fumbled a weak Llorente shot and he bundled in the rebound.

Cagliari’s misery was compounded late on when Pinilla was shown a red card for dissent.