Soccer: Tevez hits hat trick for Juve

Juventus forward Carlos Tevez, of Argentina, celebrates after scoring during a match between Juventus and Sassuolo at the Juventus stadium, in Turin, Italy. Photo / AP

Carlos Tevez scored his first hat-trick for Juventus to help the Italian Serie A leader crush Sassuolo 4-0 yesterday and reinforce their bid for a third successive league title.

Federico Peluso scored the other goal as Juventus bounced back from their midweek Champions League exit in emphatic fashion, with their eighth successive league win and clean sheet.

Juventus moved provisionally six points clear of Roma, who visit AC Milan today.

Napoli are two points further back after also getting over Champions League disappointment with an entertaining 4-2 win over 10-man Inter Milan.

Earlier, Fiorentina leapfrogged Inter into fourth spot after a comfortable 3-0 win over Bologna, while Lazio beat Livorno 2-0.

Tevez grabbed his first in the 15th minute, firing in the rebound after Arturo Vidal's effort had been saved by Gianluca Pegolo. The Argentina striker turned provider in the 28th with a free kick which Peluso headed in for his first league goal for Juventus.

Tevez doubled his tally on the stroke of halftime, pouncing on an error from Lino Marzorati before rounding the onrushing Pegolo and slotting into an empty net.

And Tevez, who scored a hat-trick for Manchester City earlier this year, completed his treble in the 69th minute, starting the move and finishing it when Mauricio Isla rolled the ball across for him to tap in from six yards.

Tevez was substituted moments later to a standing ovation.

Fiorentina moved into fourth place, two points ahead of Inter Milan.

Livorno remains a point off 17th-placed Sassuolo and safety, with Bologna a point further back.

- AP