Juve pip Palermo, Empoli equalise late
Juventus barely broke sweat as they claimed a 1-0 win at Palermo to extend their advantage at the top of Italy's Serie A to 14 points.
Substitute Alvaro Morata scored the only goal of the game in the 70th minute as Juve did just enough and no more ahead of their UEFA Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund. Palermo did too little to test them and could have no complaints as they wasted an opportunity to move up to seventh at the Renzo Barbera.
Morata picked up the ball on the edge of the area, turned well on to his left foot and had the time to pick his spot in the far corner of Stefano Sorrentino's goal. Giuseppe Iachini's men could not muster a reaction as Juve were allowed to ease off and still win.
Zdenek Zeman was denied a winning return to the Cagliari bench as Empoli equalised deep in stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw in their Serie A clash on Saturday night. It was not the heavy wind and strong rain which arrived midway through the second half that dampened the spirits of the Czech coach's return, but former Cagliari midfielder Matias Vecino with his last-gasp leveller.
The Sardinians showed glimpses of the gung-ho football with which Zeman has forged his reputation down the years and it seemed like Joao Pedro's 20th-minute strike was going to be worth all three points.
With less than 30 seconds of stoppage time remaining, the guests made their breakthrough with Vecino slotting a low shot past Zaljko Brkic to silence the Stadio Sant'Elia just moments before they were expecting to celebrate a crucial win.