Alvaro Morata the Juventus hero as leaders boost advantage at Palermo

Juventus barely broke sweat as they won 1-0 at Palermo to extend their advantage at the top of Serie A to 14 points.

Substitute Alvaro Morata scored the only goal of the game in the 70th minute as Juve did enough and no more ahead of their Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund.

Palermo did little to test them, and could have no complaints as they wasted an opportunity to move up to seventh at the Renzo Barbera.

Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to his side, although there were a few alterations with Wednesday night's clash in Germany in mind.

Andrea Barzagli made his first start in over a year at the heart of the defence, while Patrice Evra was rested and Paolo De Ceglie started.

Up front, Allegri opted to field Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente -- but early on his players' minds rarely seemed on the task at hand.

They posed little threat, but at the other end Gianluigi Buffon was a mere spectator.

The hosts showed a little more intent in the second half, yet Buffon continued to remain untested as Barzagli gave a good account of himself on his return from injury.

Allegri made it clear he did not want to settle for just a point as he sent Morata on for Llorente for the last 30 minutes, and it turned out to be an inspired move.

The Spaniard picked up the ball on the edge of the area, turned and picked his spot in the far corner of Stefano Sorrentino's goal.