Ten-man Juventus restored their three-point lead on AS Roma with a goal in either half from Paul Pogba and a Carlos Tevez strike underlining the champions’ credentials in a 3-0 win at Lazio on Saturday.
Juventus were down to 10 men after midfielder Simone Padoin saw red in the 70th minute when he was cautioned for a second time after a foul on Italy international Antonio Candreva.
By then, the damage had already been done, Pogba hitting the opener in the 24th minute and Tevez doubling Juve’s lead with a fine strike on 55 minutes.
Pogba effectively put the match beyond reach for Stefano Pioli’s men in the 64th minute and despite Lazio making two changes in the wake of Padoin’s sending-off the hosts failed to capitalise on their man advantage.
Juve’s 10th win in 12 games leaves them top on 31 points, three ahead of Roma who clinched a 2-1 win away to Atalanta earlier in the day.
“It was our best performance of the season,” Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri told Sky Sport.
“We have every reason to be happy. Coming to Lazio was never going to be easy.”
Lazio had dropped only five points in their previous seven games but Biancocelesti heads dropped after Pogba’s opener -- a fact coach Stefano Pioli highlighted after the game.
“We should have had a totally different reaction after the first goal,” said Pioli. “But Juve showed what a great side they are.”
Napoli sit in third seven points further adrift but can reduce the arrears with a win at home to Cagliari on Sunday, when the highlight is the Milan v Inter derby.
Both Roma and Juventus are in Champions League action next week, the title challengers away to CSKA Moscow while the defending Serie A champions travel to Swedish champions Malmo on Wednesday.
Ahead of that challenge and amid ongoing injury concerns among his defence, Allegri deployed a 4-3-1-2 formation with Roberto Pereyra in the hole just behind attacking duo Tevez and Fernando Llorente.
Although Andrea Pirlo made his return to the middle of midfield, Pogba was to be the main beneficiary.
Pogba broke the deadlock following a classic counter-attacking move which saw Tevez set the Frenchman up to drill past Federico Marchetti from the edge of the box.
Pogba spurned a chance to double his tally when a curling shot left Marchetti stranded only to come off the top of the far post.
At the other end Gianluigi Buffon kept a powerful Antonio Candreva free kick under control, while Keita Balde volleyed over from close range.
But Juve rarely looked troubled and doubled their lead 10 minutes after the restart.
An error from Lorik Cana prompted another counter-attack, with Claudio Marchisio setting up unmarked Tevez on the edge of the box for the Argentinian to curl a low strike past the outstretched Marchetti for his ninth league goal of the season.
Tevez now leads the Serie A scoring charts with a one and two-goal cushion on Napoli’s Jose Callejon and Mauro Icardi of Inter respectively.
Tevez said: “Now, our focus is on Malmo.”
Buffon reacted quickly to keep Candreva’s drive out of the top corner but Juve stretched their lead in style.
Pirlo, on his return from an injury absence, sighted Pereyra in space on the edge of the area and when he squared to Pogba the Frenchman feinted to send Marchetti the wrong way before firing inside the keeper’s near post.
After Pogab’s underwhelming start to the campaign, Allegri said: “Pogba played his best game of the season so far.”
Padoin’s expulsion should have sparked some kind of Lazio revival but despite Candreva testing Buffon with a superbly-struck free kick the hosts failed to capitalise on their advantage.
Earlier, Roma fought back from a Maxi Moralez goal in the first minute away to Atalanta to prevail 2-1 thanks to Adem Ljajic’s 23rd minute leveller and Radja Nainggolan’s winner three minutes from half-time.
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PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals
2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
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Match info
Premier League
Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
In Praise of Zayed
A thousand grains of Sand whirl in the sky
To mark the journey of one passer-by
If then a Cavalcade disturbs the scene,
Shall such grains sing before they start to fly?
What man of Honour, and to Honour bred
Will fear to go wherever Truth has led?
For though a Thousand urge him to retreat
He'll laugh, until such counsellors have fled.
Stands always One, defiant and alone
Against the Many, when all Hope has flown.
Then comes the Test; and only then the time
Of reckoning what each can call his own.
History will not forget: that one small Seed
Sufficed to tip the Scales in time of need.
More than a debt, the Emirates owe to Zayed
Their very Souls, from outside influence freed.
No praise from Roderic can increase his Fame.
Steadfastness was the Essence of his name.
The changing years grow Gardens in the Sand
And build new Roads to Sand which stays the same.
But Hearts are not rebuilt, nor Seed resown.
What was, remains, essentially Alone.
Until the Golden Messenger, all-wise,
Calls out: "Come now, my Friend!" - and All is known
- Roderic Fenwick Owen
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
Rating: 4/5
