Juventus 3 - 1 Catania - Juve march to summit

Posted Saturday, February 18, 2012 by PA

Juventus moved to the top of Serie A thanks to a convincing 3-1 win over 10-man Catania.

Pablo Barrientos gave Catania the lead in the fourth minute but Andrea Pirlo levelled matters in the 22nd minute.

A red card for Marco Motta in the 64th minute left Catania with a battle on their hands and it was one they lost with Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Quagliarella scoring to earn Antonio Conte's side all three points and take them above AC Milan into top spot.

Sergio Almiron warned Juventus that Catania were not just in town to make up the numbers with a dangerous shot in the third minute.

A minute later, the Sicilians led with Barrientos turning past Andrea Pirlo on the edge of the penalty area and sending a shot curling beyond the reach of Gianluigi Buffon into the far corner.

Marco Borriello, given a chance to impress in the Juve starting XI, headed straight at Tomas Kosicky in the 16th minute before Mariano Izco made a goal-line clearance minutes later as the Bianconeri searched for an equaliser.

They found it in the 22nd minute with Pirlo curling a direct free-kick round the wall and into the side of the goal left unguarded by Kosicky.

Quagliarella hit the crossbar in the 30th minute with Gonzalo Bergessio replicating at the other end two minutes later.

Pirlo was next to strike the woodwork with his free-kick dipping and just grazing the crossbar early in the second half.

Former Juve defender Motta was shown a second yellow card in the 64th minute, and with Catania reduced to 10 men Juve dropped anchor in their half of the field.

It was only a matter of time before they scored and, although Almiron wasted a good chance when he shot straight at Buffon, there was to be no further threat to the Juve goal.

They took the lead just 10 minutes after Motta's dismissal with Chiellini winning a wrestling match with Bergessio at the far post to head Pirlo's free-kick in.

Quagliarella then put the result beyond doubt in the 81st minute.

Kosicky made a poor clearance which Pirlo played into the path of Quagliarella, whose shot struck the Catania goalkeeper's hand, but the ball still looped into the goal.