Dybala keeps Juventus at Serie A summit, Lazio and Cagliari into top four

Paulo Dybala struck the decisive goal in Juventus' 1-0 win over AC Milan on Sunday after replacing Cristiano Ronaldo as Juventus stayed top of Serie A, while Lazio and Cagliari moved into the Champions League places.

Argentine forward Dybala hit the winner in the 77th minute in the Allianz Stadium having taken the place of Ronaldo 20 minutes earlier.

Defending champions Juventus maintain their one-point lead over Antonio Conte's Inter Milan who had taken pole position after their 2-1 win over Verona on Saturday.

AC Milan's seventh defeat in 12 games saw Stefano Pioli's side drop to 14th position, just four points above the relegation zone.

However Milan had threatened as the former European giants chased their first win against Juventus in Turin in eight years.

Wojciech Szczesny was kept busy in the Juventus goal, denying fellow Pole Krzysztof Piatek, Lucas Paqueta and Hakan Calhanoglu.

Blaise Matuidi missed Juventus's best chance before Dybala's winner when his powerful curling effort flew wide just after the break.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, who had also been taken off during the midweek Champions League win over Lokomotiv Moscow, reportedly left the stadium before the end of the game after being substituted on 55 minutes.

Douglas Costa also came on for Federico Bernardeschi after an hour, with the two substitutions changing the game for the champions.

Gonzalo Higuain fed Dybala, who easily shook off Alessio Romagnoli to beat Donnarumma and claim his third league goal this season.

"Cristiano should be thanked because he made himself available despite not being in optimal conditions," said Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri.

"In the last month he has had this discomfort in his knee and this a little problem for him.

"It's only natural a player is going to be irritated to leave the pitch, especially when he worked so hard to be there."
- Returning hero Nainggolan -
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"There is an enthusiasm that hasn't been seen at Cagliari for years."