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Juventus sink Bari |
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Juventus turned on the style in the second half to sink Bari at the Stadio Olimpico and boost their hopes of clinching a Champions League spot.
Substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta struck a second-half brace - a goal either side of Alessandro Del Piero's penalty - to condemn mid-table Bari to their 14th Serie A defeat of the season.
The result moved Juve up to sixth in the standings, which would be good enough for a Europa League berth, but also within four points of fourth-spotted Palermo.
Bari goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet had to be alert eight minutes in to parry a long-range blast from Diego away to safety.
Juventus stopper Gianluigi Buffon impressed at the other end two minutes later, pulling off a brilliant low save by his post to keep out Vladimir Koman's header.
Alberto Zaccheroni's side should have taken the lead in the 13th minute when Gillet failed to gather Paolo De Ceglie's cross, but Amauri fired wide from close range.
Amauri, the Brazil-born frontman who gained Italian citizenship earlier this month, wasted another fine opportunity just before the half-hour mark when he again slotted wide following a neat assist from Diego.
Diego decided to have a go himself four minutes later and went close to opening the scoring, only to see Gillet get down well to keep out a right-footed shot which had looked destined for the bottom corner.
Juve were creating the better of the chances but still Buffon had to be on his toes to prevent Koman from making the breakthrough.
The Hungary Under-21 midfielder tried his luck from 25 yards but found Italy's World Cup-winning goalkeeper equal to his effort.
Del Piero mustered one last attempt to put the Old Lady ahead before the interval but his attempt from outside the area flew harmlessly over the bar.
The second half continued in much the same vein, with Gillet the busier of the two goalkeepers.
A minute after the restart he kept out an 18-yard blast from Giorgio Chiellini and three minutes later he looked on as Del Piero headed De Ceglie's left-wing cross against the bar.
The writing was on the wall for the visitors and the deadlock was finally broken eight minutes into the second period.
Iaquinta, who had replaced Amauri, latched onto Diego's long pass and fired a low shot past Gillet.
The Bari goalkeeper kept his side in the game after 65 minutes by keeping out another header from former Udinese striker Iaquinta, and two minutes later Diego had a goal ruled out for offside.
However, the hosts stretched their lead 21 minutes from time. Gillet brought down Diego and Del Piero made no mistake from the spot.
Juve defender Jonathan Zebina almost halved Bari's deficit with a clumsy header towards his own goal, but Buffon came to his rescue.
Iaquinta made the result safe four minutes from time, converting from close range following good work on the left by fellow substitute Antonio Candreva.
Juve could even have had a fourth three minutes later when Del Piero curled in a superb free-kick, but Gillet made the save.
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