15 April 2017
Juventus boosted their bid for a sixth straight Serie A title on Saturday by beating Pescara 2-0 at the Stadio Adriatico, a win that sees them climb to 80 points – eight above closest rivals Roma – with just six league games remaining.
Following his brace last weekend against Chievo, Gonzalo Higuain was the hero again this afternoon with another two goals, scored in the 22nd and 43rd minutes, as he took his tally for the season to 29 in all competitions.
Both strikes were trademark Pipita, who finished in predatory fashion within the box to put the Bianconeri firmly in the driving seat by the break after what had been a frenetic first half.
Pescara provided the game’s first shot on goal within just 15 seconds of the kick-off when Mamadou Coulibaly warmed Neto’s gloves from the edge of the area – an early sign of the hosts’ bright intentions to attack whenever possible.
That gung-ho approach left gaps in behind, allowing Juventus to roam forwards and carve out a couple of opportunities of their own – Mario Mandzukic saw his shot blocked by Vincenzo Fiorillo from point-blank range before Higuain blazed over the bar from an acute angle.
Pipita made no mistake, however, from his next attempt, sweeping home Juan Cuadrado’s neat centre just seconds after the Colombian had seen a stinging drive parried by Fiorillo.
On 37 minutes, Higuain almost doubled his tally, thumping a volley from a nearly impossible angle towards goal, but Pescara’s keeper – by far the busier over the course of the afternoon – managed to tip the ball the other side of his near post for a corner.
The Argentine was at the centre of every Bianconeri attack and it came as no surprise that it was he who netted the visitors’ second goal before half-time, turning in Mandzukic’s knockdown from a matter of yards out.
By contrast, the second period was far quieter than the first, Claudio Marchisio’s drive over the crossbar from distance representing the only obvious chance for either side right up until full-time.
This was no classic by any stretch, but three points are three points and Massimiliano Allegri’s men can now turn attentions to Wednesday’s match in Barcelona safe in the knowledge that matters back home are well in order.
