Paul Pogba scored a 77th-minute goal to give Juventus a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Parma in Serie A.

It was the home side who carved out the game's first chance, but Massimo Gobbi's cross-cum-shot from the left side of the box evaded everyone in the middle.

In the 12th minute Carlos Tevez played an intricate one-two with Sebastian Giovinco on the left flank before scuffing an effort towards goal, which Antonio Mirante gratefully grabbed at the second attempt.

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The rest of the half passed without further goalmouth action, although Giovinco had claims for a penalty waved away and Arturo Vidal sent a long-range effort down the throat of Mirante.

The second half exploded into life immediately after the break as both sides had chances aplenty.

Tevez and Pogba got in each other's way in the box before Jonathan Biabiany threw himself in the way of Kwadwo Asamoah's shot within seconds of the restart.

Alessandro Lucarelli then fouled Italian international Giovinco on the edge of the box and the striker himself took the resultant free kick, but his effort deflected off the wall and over the bar.

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Tevez and Giovinco linked up once more in the 52nd minute, with the former feeding the latter from the byline, but the diminutive Italian fired his shot straight at Mirante.

Within 20 seconds, Parma went agonisingly close. Biabiany skipped away from Giorgio Chiellini down the right wing and fed Amauri, whose attempted flick rolled across the face of goal and inches wide of the far post.

Tevez was gifted an opportunity to give his side the lead in the 70th minute, but the Argentine's drilled effort from 12 yards was straight at Mirante.

Coach Antonio Conte made two substitutions with 15 minutes remaining, as Giovinco and Tevez made way for Fernando Llorente and Fabio Quagliarella, and the changes paid dividends immediately.

Quagliarella spun and sent an arcing shot towards goal that crashed back off the crossbar and into the path of the onrushing Pogba, who slotted home from six yards.