Juventus beat Milan 2-1 in Serie A

Turin, March 11 (IANS) Paulo Dybala struck a penalty at the death as defending champions Juventus overcame AC Milan 2-1 here to move provisionally 11 points clear at the top of the Serie A football league.

Dybala on Friday fired to the right of Milan's teenage sensational goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 90+7th minute after Carlos Bacca (43rd) cancelled out Medhi Benatia's opener in the 30th minute at the Juventus Stadium.

Donnarumma, however, impressed one and all once again by producing a series of saves. The 18-year-old was tested from the very beginning. Marko Pjaca, who got a rare start due to unfit Mario Mandzukic on the left wing, forced Donnarumma to dive right in the fourth minute.

Dybala was also at his very best, dictating the pace of the game at will and his pace also troubled the visitors. The Argentine fed Pjaca but the latter curled inches past the post.

Juventus broke the deadlock in the 30th minute in a counter-attack which saw a Dani Alves' chip being controlled by Morocco defender Benatia before firing it home beating Donnarumma on the right.

Milan equalised 13 minutes later as Bacca slid winger Gerard Deulofeu's clever pass through the legs of Juventus veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

In the second half, Pjaca got another chance but the Croatian hit just wide of the left post.

Later, Miralem Pjanic's free-kick was turned onto the bar by Donnarumma and Leonardo Bonucci's header was diverted off target.

Donnarumma produced yet more heroics to deny Sami Khedira's firmly struck effort before getting back to his feet to keep away Higuain's spectacular scissor kick on the rebound.

The goalkeeper, tipped to take the spot of Buffon in the Italian national team, again dismissed Higuain. And as the ball moved to the right, Stephan Lichtsteiner kept the ball in play and his cross found the hands of Mattea De Sciglio from a close range, earning the hosts a penalty. Dybala was right on the money to give Juventus the win.

With this win, five-time defending champions Juventus took their points tally to 70 from 28 games. Second-placed Roma have 59 points from 27 matches. Milan remained in the seventh spot following the loss.

After the win, Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri was happy with the performance of his side.

"We played very well. We allowed them to break a little too often but thanks to the technical ability of our players, we created a host of goalscoring chances," the coach told Juventus website.

"It wasn't easy as Donnarumma played brilliantly, making a wonderful save with seconds remaining," he continued. "Paulo (Dybala) did very well to strike the penalty so cleanly."

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