Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina. (Photo : Getty Images)
Defending Italian champions Juventus FC (20-4-4, 64 points) will look to extend their 17-game undefeated streak in the 2015-2016 Serie A season as they take on the challenge of rising squad US Sassuolo Calcio (11-6-11, 44 points) at the Juventus Stadium on Friday, March 11th.
Juve pulled off their 17th consecutive unbeaten game as they blanked Atalanta, 2-0, at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on Sunday, as per Goal.
Veteran center back Andrea Barzagli opened the scoring at the 24th minute of the match with a short range right-footed shot off a header assist by Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic after a corner kick.
Atalanta could not respond to the initial goal by Massimiliano Allegri's team as they reached the halftime break down by one.
La Vecchia Signora struck once again, this time from substitute midfielder Mario Lemina, who spelled German Sami Khedira at the 68th. The 22-year-old Gabonese 6-footer made the goal from outside the penalty off from another assist from Mandzukic.
The win kept Le Zebre three points clear off second-running SSC Napoli in the overall standings.
Meanwhile, seventh-placed Sassuolo closed the gap from current sixth seed AC Milan by beating I Rossoneri, 2-0, at their home field of Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore also on Sunday, as reported by ESPN.
Milan is now just three points ahead of I Neroverdi after being adrift by six points before their matchday 28 meeting.
Ghanaian midfielder Alfred Duncan scored the opener for the Black and Greens at the 27th minute, then followed it up at the 71st minute in the second half by a center strike by winger Nicola Sansone off an assist by Sime Vrsaljko.
Eusebio Di Francesco's boys actually survived being a man down from the 76th minute when French striker Grégoire Defrel was booked for a second yellow and sent off.
Sassuolo managed to hold off Il Diavolo's attacks until the full time whistle to preserve their two-goal advantage and the three points in the overall standings.
The predicted result is another 2-0 win for Juventus. Juve extends their unbeaten streak to 18 matches, snapping Sassuolo's winning run to three games.
Juventus starting lineup (4-3-1-2 formation): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli, Evra; Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba; Pereyra; Dybala, Mandzukic
Sassuolo starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Consigli; Vrsaljko, Cannavaro, Acerbi, Peluso; Missiroli, Magnanelli, Duncan; Berardi, Falcinelli, Sansone
