Dani Alves’s deflected strike kept Juventus top of Serie A as it warmed up for a Champions League clash at Dinamo Zagreb with a cagey 1-0 win at Palermo on Saturday.
Juventus travelled to Sicily looking to protect its lead but with one eye on claiming a win in Croatia on Tuesday after a scoreless draw at home to Sevilla in its Group H opener.
After just 12 seconds Gonzalo Higuain latched on to Miralem Pjanic’s ball to fire just wide of the upright as Juve looked to make its mark early on. Minutes later, Pjanic’s direct free kick from a tight angle had Palermo ‘keeper Josip Posavec on his toes.
Higuain, looking for his fifth goal in six games, was tightly marked throughout.
Juve suffered a brief scare when Higuain was left clutching his lower back and requiring treatment after falling heavily under a challenge by Posavec as the Argentine chased a long ball.
And coach Massimiliano Allegri was forced to review his gameplan when defender Daniele Rugani, starting in place of Giorgio Chiellini, was forced off with a knock on the half hour.
Juve started the second half brightly but it took a huge delection from Edoardo Goldaniga, who stuck his leg out to stop Alves’s speculative shot from 30 yards out, for Juve to finally beat Posavec.
Yet the going didn’t get any easier for the champion.
In the day’s other match, Marek Hamsik celebrated hitting his 100th goal for Napoli in a 2-0 win over Chievo that will instill confidence ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash at home to Benfica.
Yet Slovakian international Hamsik, who is now only 15 short of equalling the all-time scorers’ record at the club, held by former icon Diego Maradona, said the focus is now on Europe.
“It’s a great landmark, I’m delighted but what counts most is results. We’re near the top of the table, but now our focus is on the Champions League.”
The results: Palermo 0 lost to Juventus 1 (Goldaniga 49-og); Napoli 2 (Gabbiadini 24, Hamsik 39) bt Chievo 0.
