Serie A: Locatelli To The Rescue As Juventus Beat Torino In Turin Derby

Italian midfielder, Manuel Locatelli struck late to earn Juventus a 1-0 win over Torino in the Turin derby on Saturday, as the Old Lady stretched their winning run to four games in all competitions and kept a Serie A clean sheet for the first time in seven months.

The Italy international fired a shot in off the post with four minutes remaining, his second consecutive league goal, as Juve rose to eighth place with 11 points, three ahead of their 11th-placed rivals.

"I think over the last few weeks the team has found the right spirit, the desire to defend when we need to defend and attack when we need to attack," Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri said after the match.

"It would have been a disappointment to not win a game after this performance which, after the first half against Milan, was our best of the season."

Torino controlled the first half as Juve failed to register a shot on target, but Allegri’s side improved after the break and Alex Sandro’s header required a fine save from Vanja Milinkovic-Savic before Locatelli’s late winner.

Ivan Juric’s side struggled to threaten Wojciech Szczesny’s goal, and Juventus kept things tight defensively to end a run stretching back to March of 20 matches in a row conceding in Serie A.

Locatelli's second goal for Juventus sparked big celebrations, but the 23-year-old explained that they came at a cost.

"I got a headbutt from Giorgio Chiellini and with the head that he has, I am sure that I have a bruise," Locatelli said.

"But it is a fantastic feeling, because since I arrived here the group has been incredible, they welcomed me. We are a big group of friends and real people, despite having a lot of great players they are all humble."