Cagliari have succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Serie A table-toppers Juventus in Thursday evening's clash at the Stadio Sant'Elia.

The visitors were in front after only three minutes when Carlos Tevez showed great reactions to finish from close range following a corner, which was tamely conceded by Alessio Cragno.

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Victor Ibarbo sought to pull Cagliari back into the contest as he showed some guile down the wing to cross for Albin Ekdal, who saw his headed attempt saved by a sprawling Gianluigi Buffon.

The save proved important as Juve doubled their lead in the 15th minute, with Arturo Vidal lashing home a world-class strike from outside the box past a beleaguered Cragno in the hosts' goal.

Andrea Pirlo had a great chance to put the away side three ahead before the break, but he could only guide his free kick over the wall and the frame of the goal, leaving Juve to take a two-goal lead into half time.

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Nevertheless, the Old Lady's third goal came just six minutes after the restart when Fernando Llorente, given far too much space inside Cagliari's penalty area, scuffed a shot underneath Cragno and into the net.

The hosts did. however. manage to breach the visitors' clean sheet in the 65th minute when a free kick into the Juve box fell to Luca Rossettini, who nodded home.

It would prove to be nothing more than a consolation though, as the current Scudetto champions were able to see the game out and secure all three points.

Juventus are four points clear of second-placed Roma in the Serie A table, while Cagliari are languishing third from bottom on 12 points.