This Sunday evening clash between Palermo and Juventus looked to be an intriguing one.

Palermo were hoping to turn around some recent poor form in an otherwise very positive return to Serie A by knocking off the title leaders with a win at home. A young man by the name of Paulo Dybala with 12 Serie A goals this season has impressed many as he pushes for a debut with the Argentinean national team in the upcoming Copa America in June.

Meanwhile Juventus would be happy with no less than 3 points to widen the gap on Roma, Lazio and Napoli. Allegri needed to manage his squad well, juggling a huge second leg fixture against Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday night.

The first half began with a number of physical tackles and fouls from both sides, however there were no shots to trouble Sorrentino or Buffon at either end. This continued through the majority of the half with good possession hard to come by. Iachini tried to exploit Barzagli who returned from a long injury lay off and was starting his first game of the season, by matching him up with the in form Dybala.

With the majority of the play happening in the middle of the pitch, Tevez produced the first moment of the game, finding space on the 18 minute mark firing a long range shot at Sorrentino who found it hard to handle, although knocking it to his own advantage and keeping the ball safely out of the back of the net. 

A scare went through the Juventus camp with the debutante Stefano Sturaro getting a full boot to the ankle from Baretto. However he managed to carry on his indifferent first half. 

Dybala produced a small moment of brilliance on 34 minutes, turning Bonucci and squaring the ball to the top of the box to Vazquez however he was unable to get his through ball past Chiellini.

Andelkovic earned himself a yellow card card by bringing down Pereyra about 25 yards from goal. The resulting free kick floated in by Marchisio was headed back across the face of goal by Llorente and met by De Ceglie trying to invent a spectacular overhead kick to no avail. 

The second half started in much the same way as the first, Juve's defense hard to penetrate and with much of the play happening in the middle of the pitch. 

Luca Rigoni cut across some dangerous play from Pereyra earning him a free kick just outside the box. Tevez stepped up and had Sorrentino produce a fine save. 

The deadlock was broken on the 70 minute with Marchisio chipping the ball over Palermo's line of defense for Morata who controlled from the right hand side of the 18 yard box, turned onto his left foot and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. 

Palermo heaped on the pressure with Rispoli making a run down the right and delivering the ball into Rigoni, however Barzagli was there to block the shot. 

Although Palermo and in particular Dybala continued pressing, especially in second half stoppage time, they would not find a way through the Juventus defense. Allegri's counter-attacking style of play proved enough to earn Juventus their 19th win of the season and an important one away from home. 

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