Paul Pogba sends Juventus 11 points clear with Sassuolo win

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:20 am
Paul Pogba's goal was all Juventus needed to defeat Sassuolo.
Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Juventus opened up an 11-point lead at the top of Serie A with 12 games to go thanks to a 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Monday night.

Paul Pogba scored the only goal of the game eight minutes from time to break Sassuolo's resistance and move Juve closer to their fourth successive Serie A title.

It was a one-sided game, although Sassuolo's defence was rarely really tested by a Bianconeri side, who seemed to be stuck only in first gear, even though they still had enough to record their 18th win of the season.

With one eye already turning towards next week's Champions League last-16 second leg at Borussia Dortmund, thanks to the fact that Roma were held to another draw on Sunday, Juve just appeared to be going through the motions at the Juventus Stadium.

Sassuolo did not want to take any risks, though, aware of how dangerous Juve can be if they are given an inch.

The first half was therefore a tactical affair with few chances at either end.

The hosts raised their rhythm slightly at the start of the second half, albeit remaining below their usual standards.

Pogba had a shot in the 52nd minute with Andrea Consigli at full stretch touching it wide at the base of his left-hand post.

A similar effort from Carlos Tevez was always curling away from Consigli's far post five minutes later as the home team started to do a little bit more with their possession in the final third.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri changed the team's approach by sending Fernando Llorente on for Alvaro Morata, and the Basque forward nearly justified his entrance with his first attempt on goal.

It seemed like it was going to take something special to decide it and Pogba provided it with his seventh goal of the season, smashed past Consigli on the volley after juggling the ball into the penalty area.

There was a greater cheer from the Juve fans when Andrea Barzagli made his first appearance of the season after injury, and then the third cheer came at the final whistle with Juve that little bit closer to another Scudetto.