Paulo Dybala made an ideal return to the starting XI with a great goal before Dusan Vlahovic’s header, sweeping Salernitana aside to move within a point of Inter in third place.
The Bianconeri needed to shake off the disappointment of their Champions League exit, but knew a win would put them within a point of third-place Inter – even if the Nerazzurri had a game in hand.
Manuel Locatelli tested positive for COVID-19, with Alex Sandro, Leonardo Bonucci, Denis Zakaria, Weston McKennie, Federico Chiesa and Kaio Jorge injured. Dybala returned to the starting XI, with Danilo moved into midfield. Salernitana were still rock bottom, but had Franck Ribery and Simone Verdi back on the bench.
It took under five minutes for Juventus to break the deadlock, as Juan Cuadrado’s through ball for Dusan Vlahovic was laid off for Dybala, La Joya flicked it up with his first touch to commit the defender, allowing him to fire in at the near post from six yards.
Serie A Liveblog inc Juve-Salernitana, Roma-Lazio, Bologna-Atalanta
Dybala should really have made it 2-0, but dinked it over one-on-one after springing the offside trap on a Cuadrado cross-field pass.
Dybala got away again, this time turning Federico Fazio inside out, but rolled across for Vlahovic, whose first touch ruined it, allowing Luigi Sepe to save. Moments later, Dybala forced a one-handed save from close range with a bit of acrobatic improvisation.
Vlahovic did get his goal eventually with a towering header from six yards on the Mattia De Sciglio cross from the right.
Luca Pellegrini was booked for simulation and will be suspended against Inter, although it seemed a harsh call. He left the leg hanging, but had also tried to change direction, so was largely just clumsy.
Daniele Rugani came on for the restart and almost gave away a penalty when kicking the ball onto his own arm, but it was an accidental ricochet and therefore given the all-clear.
Juve visibly sat back and rested on their lead in the second half, allowing Salernitana forward. Wojciech Szczesny got down to push a Simone Verdi strike round the near post, then had to make a spectacular save to deny the acrobatic Federico Bonazzoli volley from 12 yards on a Milan Djuric knockdown.
Juventus 2-0 Salernitana
Dybala 5 (J), Vlahovic 29 (J)