Novara 0-4 Juventus: Vucinic grabs a double as Bianconeri move to within two wins of Scudetto

Juventus retained their three-point advantage at the top of Serie A as they cantered to a 3-0 win over Novara at the Silvio Piola Stadium.

The result never looked in doubt as Mirko Vucinic catapulted the Old Lady ahead in the 16th minute before his strike partner Marco Borriello added the second before the break. Arturo Vidal added a third soon after the restart and Vucinic completed the rout with his second.

After the nail-biting victory over Cesena last week, Juve set about ensuring their supporters had a far more comfortable afternoon right from the kick off.

Within two minutes Borriello was played in behind the defence Vucinic. He aimed for the far corner with a cross-goal shot but it bent away from the target and shaded the outside of the post.

Juve continued to attack relentlessly and the Novara defence could only keep them out until the 16th minute.

Andrea Pirlo's free kick from the left found Vucinic in the box and the Montenegrin added the most deft of flicks that diverted the ball into the goal via the crossbar.

Antonio Conte's men were not letting up and continued to stretch the Novara defence but Claudio Marchisio and Stephan Lichtsteiner failed to add to their team's tally.

Andrea Mazzarini missed Novara's best chance of the half on the half hour when his header looped onto the roof of the net. The hosts were then punished 10 minutes later when the Bianconeri finally added their second goal.

Emanuele Giaccherini supplied a superb cross to the back post which was met by an unmarked Borriello and the striker found the back of the net with a diving header.

The second half provided no respite for the hosts and after Borriello failed to convert a simple tap in three minutes after the restart, Vidal added the third.

With 50 minutes played Vucinic saw his initial effort saved by Alberto Fontana but the rebound fell straight to the feet of the Chilean. It was a simple finish and he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner with the keeper out of position.

Novara were being totally outclassed and in the 64th minute Vucinic slammed in a rebound after Giaccherini's shot was saved by Fontana, to make it 4-0.

Elijero Elia failed to make it a five-star performance when his shot was saved magnificently by Fontana 12 minutes from time.

The Bianconeri stepped off the gas and coasted to the final whistle, but there was still time for Pirlo to rattle the post with an exquisite stoppage-time free kick 25 yards from goal.

Juventus are now one game closer to their first Scudetto since the 2002/03 campaign. AC Milan's victory over Siena means that the Turin side maintain their three-point lead over the Rossoneri but now just three games remain.

For Novara, relegation looms ever larger and they could well be confirmed for the drop if they fail to win their next match away to Fiorentina.