Paulo Dybala secures win for Juventus over Bologna

Bologna: Argentine playmaker Paulo Dybala scored Juventus’s 1-0 winner over host Bologna in a the Serie A match at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium.

With its 22nd win of the season, Juventus strengthened its grip on the top spot with 69 points, 16 points ahead of second-place Napoli, which still has a game to play, while Bologna stayed in the relegation zone with 18 points, reports Efe news.

After a scoreless 45 minutes on Sunday, substitute Dybala fired a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to score the lone goal of the match in minute 67, just eight minutes after taking the field.

This is the third successive Serie A win for Juventus since its 3-3 draw with Parma on February 2. The Italian league seven-time defending champion was handed a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Spain’s Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday.

In other Serie A action on Sunday, host Chievo Verona and Genoa played to a scoreless draw in a match at Marc’Antonio Bentegodi Stadium.

Genoa is in 13th place in the standings, with 29 points, while Chievo remains in last place, with just 10 points.

Elsewhere, 10-man Sassuolo and visiting SPAL finished their match at Mapei Stadium tied at a goal apiece.

Defender Federico Peluso opened the scoring for Sassuolo in minute 43 with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box off an assist from teammate Stefano Sensi.

After the intermission, foward Andrea Petagna netted SPAL’s 1-1 equaliser, eight minutes after the hour-mark, when he successfully made a penalty kick that was whistled by the referee and confirmed by the video assistant referee (VAR).

In the second-half stoppage time, Sassuolo substitute midfielder Alfred Duncan was shown a straight red card over a bad foul and was sent off the pitch.

Sassuolo is in 11th place in the standings, with 31 points, while SPAL holds 15th place, with 23 points.

Earlier in the day, Sampdoria edged Cagliari 1-0 at Luigi Ferraris Stadium, thanks to the lone goal scored by veteran striker Fabio Quagliarella on a penalty kick in the 66th minute. Sampdoria is in 9th place, with 36 points, while Cagliari is in 14th place, with 24 points. IANS

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