Another Serie A win was the perfect way to prepare for a crunch Champions League encounter against Barcelona but before discussing either game Massimiliano Allegri sought to allay fears over Paulo Dybala after the Argentine star was forced off with an injury at Pescara.

“He’s taken a knock and twisted it a little but I think we can be optimistic,” the manager said.

The hope is that La Joya will recover in time for Wednesday’s big match at Camp Nou – which, following the final whistle at the Stadio Adriatico, is now occupying everything’s thoughts.

“Barcelona are going to attack us and the first half an hour will be important,” Allegri continued. “We must set out to score – much like we did against Napoli.

“Our aim is to score two goals. We must be brave and confident because we can reach the semi-finals but it’s not going to be easy.”

Commenting then on the victory over Pescara – which came courtesy of a Gonzalo Higuain double – the boss explained that he was pleased with the result but not entirely so with the performance.

“The lads did well to get the win but we should have managed the game better and not wasted energy given the heat out there today.

“We didn’t make the most of the space and we could have done better in possession.”

Roma’s draw against Atalanta means Juve now hold an eight-point advantage at the Serie A summit. How does that alter the title race?

“At the moment they could finish on 90 points so we need to get 91. We have some tricky matches still to play but for now we’ll focus on Wednesday. After that we can think about Genoa.”

Source:  juventus.com

Two goals for Gonzalo Higuain and three points for Juventus against Pescara mean 23 Serie A goals for him and 80 points for the Bianconeri. With six games left to play, El Pipita says the finish line is in sight.

“This is an important win today because it means we’re one game closer to a sixth straight Scudetto – that’s our target.”

Meanwhile Roma’s draw against Atalanta has seen the Bianconeri extend their lead to eight points at the top but the Argentine insisted results elsewhere change nothing for Juventus.

“We have to keep focusing on one game at a time and just worry about ourselves.”

Next up is the return leg against Barcelona, with a Champions League semi-final berth on the line.

“We need to rest up and prepare for it as best we can because it’s going to be a really tough game. It would be fantastic if we could reach the semis.”

Juventus boosted their bid for a sixth straight Serie A title on Saturday by beating Pescara 2-0 at the Stadio Adriatico, a win that sees them climb to 80 points – eight above closest rivals Roma – with just six league games remaining.

Following his brace last weekend against Chievo, Gonzalo Higuain was the hero again this afternoon with another two goals, scored in the 22nd and 43rd minutes, as he took his tally for the season to 29 in all competitions.

Both strikes were trademark Pipita, who finished in predatory fashion within the box to put the Bianconeri firmly in the driving seat by the break after what had been a frenetic first half.

Pescara provided the game’s first shot on goal within just 15 seconds of the kick-off when Mamadou Coulibaly warmed Neto’s gloves from the edge of the area – an early sign of the hosts’ bright intentions to attack whenever possible.

That gung-ho approach left gaps in behind, allowing Juventus to roam forwards and carve out a couple of opportunities of their own – Mario Mandzukic saw his shot blocked by Vincenzo Fiorillo from point-blank range before Higuain blazed over the bar from an acute angle.

Pipita made no mistake, however, from his next attempt, sweeping home Juan Cuadrado’s neat centre just seconds after the Colombian had seen a stinging drive parried by Fiorillo.

On 37 minutes, Higuain almost doubled his tally, thumping a volley from a nearly impossible angle towards goal, but Pescara’s keeper – by far the busier over the course of the afternoon – managed to tip the ball the other side of his near post for a corner.

The Argentine was at the centre of every Bianconeri attack and it came as no surprise that it was he who netted the visitors’ second goal before half-time, turning in Mandzukic’s knockdown from a matter of yards out.

By contrast, the second period was far quieter than the first, Claudio Marchisio’s drive over the crossbar from distance representing the only obvious chance for either side right up until full-time.

This was no classic by any stretch, but three points are three points and Massimiliano Allegri’s men can now turn attentions to Wednesday’s match in Barcelona safe in the knowledge that matters back home are well in order.