Juventus gets back to winning ways with a lot of help from the post

Juventus got back to winning ways but needed a lot of help from post.

Bianconeri won 2-0 at Udinese following an own-goal from home goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and Nicolò Savona’s strike, with ball bouncing off right post immediately before both goals.

It was only Juve’s second win in six matches in all competitions and lifted it up to third, ahead of rest of weekend’s fixtures. It was four points behind Serie A leader Napoli, which hosts fourth-place Atalanta on Sunday.

Udinese remained seventh and could be leapfrogged by AC Milan if Rossoneri win at Monza later.

Only two points separated Udinese and Juventus coming into match.

Juventus took lead in 20th minute with a wonderful piece of play from Khéphren Thuram, who ran into box and nutmegged a defender before taking a shot from a tight angle. ball bounced off inside of far right post and in off back of Okoye.

It would have been a first goal in Italy for Thuram, younger bror of Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram.

Udinese had a number of chances to level before Juventus doubled its lead in 37th.

same post had a part to play again as Kenan Yildiz’s finish was deflected off almost exactly same spot and Savona fired in rebound.

Udinese thought it had got back into match early in second half but Keinan Davis’ effort was ruled out immediately as he had pushed Juventus defender Federico Gatti, causing him to crash into goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.

Bologna welcomed back club captain Lewis Ferguson 203 days after his anterior cruciate ligament injury and midfielder helped team to its first home victory since even before he was sidelined.

re was a standing ovation when Ferguson was brought on in 82nd minute and again when he first touched ball moments later. re were also banners in stands welcoming him back.

And Ferguson was involved in only goal of match to help Bologna beat Lecce 1-0 and get its first home win in seven months. He spread play down left, where cross came in for Riccardo Orsolini’s header into far bottom corner with five minutes remaining.

Ferguson, who was key to Bologna’s impressive campaign last season, needed surgery after injuring his knee playing against Monza on April 13, ruling Scotland midfielder also out of European Championship.