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MILAN: 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 Sunday.
Roma have the chance to reduce the gap to four points later when they host Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico.
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.
Although Napoli are now nine points adrift after their 1-1 draw at home to Lazio on Saturday, AC Milan maintained their purple patch with a precious 2-1 win at Palermo.
It moved Vincenzo Montella's men up to provisional second place at five points behind Juventus, whose bid for glory at home and in Europe is exacting a heavy toll.
The champions were already without defender Giorgio Chiellini for the trip to Verona and coach Massimiliano Allegri dropped Leonardo Bonucci to the bench after he suffered a thigh injury in a midweek Champions League draw with Lyon.
But Bonucci was forced into action to replace Barzagli after the Juve veteran fell awkwardly on his arm in an early challenge and was stretchered off.
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