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Serie A: Juve go four points clear, Totti breaks record

January 22, 2012 14:32 IST

Second-half goals from Stephan Lichtsteiner and Emanuele Giaccherini sent Juventus four points clear in Serie A after they defeated Atalanta 2-0 in Bergamo on Saturday to finish the first half of the season unbeaten.

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Defender Andrea Barzagli struck the post in the 11th minute and Mirko Vucinic's half-volley forced Andrea Consigli into a near-post save.

The home side threatened on the break but Juve continued to carve out chances with left back Paolo De Ceglie twice going close and Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal crashing a 25-metre shot against the crossbar three minutes before the break.

The visitors finally broke through when right back Lichtsteiner sneaked a header inside the near post after being picked out by Pirlo.

Substitute Luca Marrone fired straight at Consigli after a fine one-two with Matri before setting up Giaccherini to wrap up the points.

TottiIn the day's other match, Francesco Totti struck twice to set a league scoring record as resurgent AS Roma climbed to sixth by crushing Cesena 5-1.

"I will play until I'm physically unable to do what I want," the 35-year-old Totti told the Mediaset Premium TV channel.

"If we continue to play like this we'll go far. We're enjoying our football and pleasing fans too," he added after claiming his 211th goal for Roma, a league record for a single club.

Captain Totti struck after 34 seconds before volleying his second from an Erik Lamela pass.

Striker Fabio Borini grabbed the third in the ninth minute as Roma went on the rampage.

Third from bottom Cesena pulled a goal back through Brazilian Eder after 59 minutes but defender Juan (62) and Miralem Pjanic (70) clinched Roma's fourth straight league win as they chalked up 30 points from 18 games.

Totti went agonisingly close to a hat-trick with a rasping drive on the hour but Juan made it 4-1 by sidefooting home the rebound after Borini's header struck the woodwork.

Bosnia midfielder Pjanic netted the fifth, slamming the ball past Antonioli with his left foot after the keeper had failed to hold his initial effort.

In Bergamo, Swiss defender Lichtsteiner nodded in Andrea Pirlo's brilliant pass after 55 minutes to give Juve a deserved lead before substitute Giaccherini's volley made the game safe eight minutes from time.

Atalanta remained sixth from bottom while the win gave Juve 41 points from 19 games, four ahead of AC Milan who visit bottom club Novara on Sunday.

Source: REUTERS
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