Hitman Higuain lets Allegri breathe easy

It was more difficult than Juventus would have liked, but Massimiliano Allegri's side won 2-0 at relegation-threatened Crotone to restore its seven-point lead in Serie A on Wednesday.

Roma's 4-0 win over Fiorentina on Tuesday cut Juve's advantage, but second-half goals from Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain - the latter's 16th of the season - kept Allegri's team on course for a sixth straight scudetto.

"We could have done better in the first half, especially in the speed of our passing, but overall we were organized, giving away little or nothing and approaching the game with lucidity and organization," said Allegri.

"Roma and Napoli are playing well, but we're thinking about keeping our concentration on what we have to do.

"Also tonight, for example, we didn't concede a goal - and that's something positive."

The loss leaves Crotone languishing in 19th place and nine points from safety.

The Calabrians did not disgrace themselves and proved stubborn opposition for an hour, stifling Juve with dogged defense.

However, they ran out of steam as Mandzukic converted a rebound from a Kwadwo Asamoah header in the 60th minute.

With 16 minutes left, Higuain calmly fired home when faced with only goalkeeper Alex Cordaz to beat.

That took Higuain's league tally to 16, one shy of top scorer Edin Dzeko, who bagged a brace for Roma on Tuesday.

"We knew it wouldn't be easy. We expected Crotone to get behind the ball, making it difficult to get forward and find the man between the lines," said Juve centerback Leonardo Bonucci.

"In the first half our tempo was low, but as Allegri said, we did well to remain patient, like we did against Inter and as we will have to in the next few games."

Later on Wednesday, Milan ended a three-match losing streak in sensational fashion as Mario Pasalic tapped home from close range following a cross from Gerard Deulofeu, who is on loan from Everton.

But a Milan victory seemed improbable after the dismissals of centerback Gabriel Paletta in the first half and Slovak midfielder Juraj Kucka just before the hour mark.

Defender Alessio Romagnoli was also forced off with injury after 30 minutes.

"There are moments in a season in which you have to show something extra and today we did that," Milan coach Vincenzo Montella said.

"We showed the spirit of this team and I think we deserved this win."

As for the chances of victory with nine men, Montella added: "Honestly, I didn't think we'd do it. But their attitude was amazing and in the end we were rewarded with the win."

Bologna toiled despite the two-man advantage and created few clear scoring chances.

Milan stays seventh, two points behind bitter city rival Inter in the final Europa League qualifying spot.

It was more misery for mid-table Bologna after its 7-1 trouncing at Napoli last weekend.