Miralem Pjanic strikes as Juve labour to win

Bosnia midfielder Miralem Pjanic silenced his critics with a superb free-kick winner as injury-depleted Juventus laboured to a 2-1 win at Chievo to stretch their Serie A lead on Sunday.

In a hard-fought encounter that saw defender Andrea Barzagli stretchered off after just four minutes, Juventus were given another reminder their bid for a record sixth consecutive league title is far from being a formality.

Napoli are now nine points adrift after a 1-1 draw at home to Lazio on Saturday, but Roma moved back up to second at just four points behind after a Mohamed Salah hat-trick inspired them to a 3-0 romp over Bologna.

AC Milan’s purple patch continued with a precious 2-1 win at Palermo that moved Vincenzo Montella’s men up to third at five points off Juventus, whose bid for glory at home and in Europe is exacting a heavy toll.

Injuries continue to pile up for Massimiliano Allegri’s men, so the Juventus coach was delighted with the win. Still missing strikers Paulo Dybala and Mark Pjaca, Allegri had to deploy Mario Mandzukic alongside Argentine Gonzalo Higuain.

At Palermo, Suso stole the show for AC Milan in a 2-1 win that saw Josip Posavec perform heroics for the hosts.

Leipzig join leaders Bayern Berlin: Bundesliga new boys RB Leipzig drew level on 24 points with Bayern Munich at the top of the table on Sunday with a record-equalling 3-1 win over Mainz.

Leipzig, who have now matched Bayern’s run of seven wins and three draws from their opening ten games, equalled the record for a team in their first Bundesliga season, set by MSV Duisburg, who also went ten games unbeaten in the 1993/94 campaign.

Timo Werner (two) and Emil Forsberg scored Leipzig’s goals in a game which threatened to turn into a rout as the hosts wasted four clear chances with the scoreline flattering Mainz, who drop to tenth.

After Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by Hoffenheim on Saturday, Leipzig seized their chance to match the Bavarian giants’ points tally, but stay second on goal difference.

Leipzig, who were only founded in 2009, earned their place in Germany’s top flight this season with four promotions in seven years.

Schalke continued their rise up the table with a 3-1 win at home to Werder Bremen as Algeria’s Nabil Bentaleb, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, netted his fourth goal in four Bundesliga games.