Juventus down hapless Milan

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba celebrates a goal in their Italian League match against hosts AC Milan on Saturday. Juventus won 2-1. (Photo: AP)

Paul Pogba struck a second-half winner as Juventus continued their march towards a record-equalling fifth consecutive Serie A title with a 2-1 victory at AC Milan on Saturday.

Juventus, who last won five on the trot in 1935, are now nine points clear of second-placed Napoli, before they host basement side Verona on Sunday.

Milan’s second successive defeat has put a further dent in the struggling Serie A giants’ bid to qualify for next season’s Europa League.

Ahead of the remaining fixtures on Sunday, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men remain sixth, but could be 10 points behind fifth-placed Fiorentina if they beat Empoli away.

Juventus have now gone 22 consecutive games unbeaten, a run that includes 21 wins and a draw.

But it was far from straightforward for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, who went behind to an Alex header from a corner on 18 minutes — only the 17th league goal they have conceded this season — and levelled on the half hour through Mario Mandzukic.

Allegri, sacked by Milan in January 2014, said: “It wasn’t a question of revenge for me.

When Giacomo Bonaventura won a free kick just outside the area, Mario Balotelli stepped up to force Buffon down low to stop his piledriver.

Balotelli was making a rare start after months of trying to make the grade and when he stole possession from Alex Sandro, it led directly to Milan’s 18th minute opener.

Balotelli’s cross was deflected out for a corner and the Italian stepped up to deliver an inswinger that Alex met with a powerful header to beat Buffon in the Juve goal.

Juve spurned a chance to level when Stephan Lichsteiner’s low shot was smothered by Gianluigi Donnarumma, and the visitors came closer after Carlos Bacca gave up possession to send Juve on the counter, with Claudio Marchisio’s drive tipped over by the 17-year-old keeper.

From the corner, Donnarumma punched the ball to safety, and on the follow-up only a late Alex interception thwarted Mandzukic.

Milan were living dangerously and paid the price moments later when Alvaro Morata set up Mandzukic to beat Donnarumma low at his far post for a 27th-minute leveller. Milan pressed to restore their advantage but Keisuke Honda’s long-range effort was harmless.