Juventus edge Roma to reclaim Serie A lead

Italian champions Juventus have won 2-1 at Roma to leapfrog Inter Milan and reclaim top spot in Italy's Serie A as the league reached its half-way point.

Juve defender Merih Demiral volleyed home in the third minute and Cristiano Ronaldo tallied his 14th goal as he converted a 10th-minute penalty after Paulo Dybala dispossessed and was floored by Jordan Veretout.

Demiral hurt a knee and exited on 19 minutes while young Roma talent Nicolo Zaniolo was stretchered off the pitch on 34 amid reports of a serious injury.

The Rome hosts came close when Edin Dzeko hit the post and pulled one back as the action continued from Diego Perotti's penalty in the 68th.

Video review showed ball handling from Alex Sandro after he blocked a header from Cengiz Under.

Juve have 48 points from 19 games while Inter are on 46.

Roma slipped to fifth behind Atalanta on goal difference with both on 35 points.

Mid-table Udinese beat Sassuolo 3-0 earlier on Sunday.

Stefano Okaka nodded home after 14 minutes before Ken Sema and Rodrigo De Paul struck to seal a third win in a row for the Udine hosts.

Sampdoria crushed second-last visitors Brescia 5-1 in a comeback win marked by a brace from veteran Fabio Quagliarella.

Brescia, which remained a point from safety, took the lead through Jhon Chancellor.

But Karol Linetty scored and set up the other goal for Jakub Jankto to put Samp ahead at the break.

Samp extended their lead with a Quagliarella penalty on 69 minutes.

Gianluca Caprari sealed the match on 77 minutes seconds after coming off the bench and Quagliarella added a fifth late on with a cheeky lob.

Torino managed to edge out Bologna 1-0 courtesy of an Alex Berenguer 11th-minute goal to go seventh.

Eighth-placed Verona came from behind to beat relegation threatened Genoa 2-1 while Fiorentina edged bottom side SPAL 1-0.