Juventus beat nine-man Chievo to return to top of Serie A

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:35 am

Daniele Badolato/Juventus FC via Getty Images

Juventus climbed back back to the Serie A summit but made heavy weather of beating a Chievo side reduced to nine men.

Sami Khedira broke the deadlock and Gonzalo Higuain grabbed a late second to secure a 2-0 win in a game which saw a needless red card for Samuel Bastien and an utterly ridiculous one for Fabrizio Cacciatore.

Nevertheless an eighth straight win lifted the champions back above title rivals Napoli, who host Bologna on Sunday.

Chievo were holding their own in a low-key affair but suffered a major blow eight minutes before half-time when Belgian youngster Bastien was sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession, both for unnecessary fouls.

The game then exploded into life on the hour when Chievo were reduced to nine after Cacciatore complained he had been fouled as he planted a header at Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny.

His long and bizarre protests, including standing on the touchline with his hands behind his back in an apparent 'handcuff' gesture, earned the striker a straight red card.

Five minutes later Juve made the breakthrough, Federico Bernardeschi cutting the ball back for Khedira to blast home from 15 yards.

Higuain headed in a Douglas Costa cross with three minutes remaining to secure the points.