Football: Juve win on coach Conte’s return

MILAN: Juventus coach Antonio Conte enjoyed a winning return to the touchline after his four-month ban on Sunday, as the Serie A leaders won 1-0 at Palermo, while Inter Milan’s pulsating 2-1 win over Napoli took them second. Stephan Lichtsteiner scored Juve’s winner early in the second half of a game, in which both teams struggled on a difficult pitch that cut up badly following a hailstorm at halftime. Inter’s Fredy Guarin scored the first goal and set up a second for Diego Milito as they took a 2-0 halftime lead against Napoli. Edinson Cavani pulled one back for the visitors early in the second half and the rest of the match was an end-to-end affair in which almost every attack produced a chance. AC Milan continued their revival with a third league win in a row, coming from behind to win 4-2 at Torino.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2012.