Cuadrado saves Juve blushes

MILAN — Massimiliano Allegri hailed an "important step forward" as jittery Juventus edged closer to a record sixth consecutive scudetto with a precious 1-0 win at Sampdoria Sunday. "This is an important step forward because we have a very difficult end to the season," Allegri said after a 24th win of the campaign moved the Turin giants 10 points ahead of Napoli, in second. Roma is a point behind in third before hosting Sassuolo later Sunday. A superb header from Juan Cuadrado on seven minutes gave Juventus the early advantage, until the loss of playmaker Paulo Dybala to a flexor muscle problem on 27 minutes changed Allegri's gameplan. He replaced Dybala with Marko Pjaca, but Juve labored for the remainder on its way to seeing former striker Fabio Quagliarella fire an overhead kick over Gianluigi Buffon's crossbar in the closing minutes. Bruno Fernandes' volley had tested Buffon in the opening half while at the other end Christian Puggioni flew to fingertip Pjaca's angled drive around the post on the stroke of half-time. If Allegri hoped for improvement, he was to be left disappointed by a messy second half. Allegri's nerves were frayed on several occasions, notably when Kwadwo Asamoah, having provided Cuadrado's assist, panicked and lost possession while under pressure in the area. Juventus beat Milan 2-1 in a fiery encounter last week. Elsewhere, Lazio's Champions League hopes were dented by a scoreless draw at Cagliari that left Simone Inzaghi's men fourth but now five points behind Roma and six behind Napoli. Fiorentina's hopes of Europa League football next season looked dead and buried, but after losses by Inter and Lazio La Viola are back in the hunt after a 1-0 win at Crotone courtesy of Nikola Kalinic's 90th minute winner. Fiorentina remains eighth although Paulo Sousa's men are just seven points behind Inter. Inter, held 2-2 at Torino Saturday, sits fifth at two points behind Lazio but on the same points (55) as Atalanta, who cruised to a 3-0 home win against Pescara. AC Milan's 1-0 win over Genoa Saturday means the Rossoneri remain seventh at two points behind Atalanta and Inter.