Juventus overcome obstinate Pescara

Juventus have a 12-point advantage at the top of Serie A after a 2-1 home victory against the league's bottom club, Pescara Calcio.

Two goals in six minutes from Mirko Vučinić helped the leaders overcome their subborn opponents, whose goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli was in fine fettle and kept the Bianconeri at bay for much of the contest.

Vučinić's first was from the penalty spot, the Montenegrin international converting after Arturo Vidal had been tugged back – an infringement that earned Giuseppe Rizzo a 72nd-minute red card. Buoyed by his opener, Vučinić showed composure and skill to score his second, cutting inside his marker and shooting inside the right post from ten metres.

Unwilling to roll over, Pescara pulled a goal back when Emmanuel Cascione fired an unstoppable effort into the top-left corner from the edge of the area, but the defeat leaves them bottom, six points from safety.

Juventus – for whom Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio were unused substitutes – continue to ride high in pole position, but their win was soured as Sebatian Giovinco was carried off with a right knee injury. In the late game, a 94th-minute effort from Rolando Bianchi salvaged Torino FC a 2-2 draw from their trip to Bologna FC.