Juventus Edge Closer To Serie A Title With Win Over Sampdoria

Juventus went six points clear at the top of Serie A as they bounced back from their controversial Champions League exit to Real Madrid with the victory over Sampdoria.

Douglas Costa, a 43rd-minute substitute, assisted all three goals.

Mario Mandzukic slammed home Costa’s cross at the end of the first half and Benedikt Howedes headed in his first Juve goal from another centre.

Costa then found Sami Khedira to guide home the third goal.

Juve, who have dropped only four points since 19 November, host Napoli next Sunday at 19:45 BST.

The Turin side, chasing a seventh consecutive league title, lost to an injury-time Cristiano Ronaldo penalty on Wednesday after coming back from 3-0 down in the two-legged tie.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was sent off for dissent against Real and gave several angry interviews after the game, pulled off a good save to deny Sampdoria’s Duvan Zapata late on.

Napoli, who topped the table for much of the season, lost further ground in the title race as they were held to a 0-0 draw by AC Milan earlier on Sunday.

They almost won it late on when Arkadiusz Milik’s close-range shot was brilliantly saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, making his 100th Serie A appearance at the age of 19.

Champions League semi-finalists Roma drew 0-0 with Lazio in the capital derby. Lazio had Stefan Radu sent off for two bookings with 10 minutes left and Edin Dzeko had three chances to win it for Roma, including a header which hit the crossbar.