Serie A: Morata hits brace in Juventus' win against Lazio

Juventus came back with an Alvaro Morata brace to beat guests Lazio 3-1 on Saturday and bolster their third place in Serie A.

The Turin side have a game in hand as they sit seven points adrift of leaders Inter Milan, who close matchday 26 at home to fourth-place Atalanta on Monday. Second-place AC Milan are six off the top and visit Verona on Sunday.

Joaquin Correa was ruthless when a bad pass from Dejan Kulusevski sent him away to stun Wojciech Szczesny on 14 minutes, and Juventus’ Polish keeper had then to save drives from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto.

The first chance for the Bianconeri went begging when Morata, who started as single striker with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, nodded wide, but Adrien Rabiot left Pepe Reina standing when he cannoned his drive under the bar on 39.

The Spanish veteran keeper denied Federico Chiesa after the break and Milinkovic-Savic saw his header come off the bar before Morata completed the comeback by finishing a counter-attack triggered by Chiesa.

Milinkovic-Savic’s foul on Aaron Ramsey led to a penalty that Morata fired past his compatriot Reina on the hour before giving way to Ronaldo.

Udinese beat Sassuolo 2-0 as Fernando Llorente and Roberto Pereyra struck to push the Udine side within four points of their guests.

Llorente deftly turned in a deep feed from Nahuel Molina and after the break saw his skipper Rodrigo De Paul hit the top left junction before setting up Pereyra in stoppage time.

Spain veteran Llorente, a former Napoli and Juventus striker, netted his first goal for Udinese since his late January transfer from the Naples side.

Udinese moved into 10th place, while Sassuolo are ninth with a game in hand.

Spezia and visiting Benevento opened the weekend with a 1-1 draw in a newcomers’ clash and both moved six points clear of the drop zone.

Adolfo Gaich finished into the closest corner after storming on the left for the Southerners first-half opener, with Daniele Verde flicking home for Spezia’s equalizer.

(dpa)