Juventus reasserted their absolute authority in Serie A by humiliating Parma in Turin.
The league leaders could not have sent a clearer message to title rivals Roma as braces from Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata, and a fine strike from Stephan Lichtsteiner reminded the capital club exactly what kind of machine they are daring to challenge.
Relegation-threatened Parma were brought down to earth with an almighty bump following last weekend’s inspiring victory over Internazionale and the Gialloblu meekly returned to last place having reached 30 goals conceded from only 11 games.
Parma’s various weaknesses meant they were never likely to cause Juve too many problems and they did rather well to keep the champions at arm’s length until the 24th minute.
After Tevez had blasted over the bar from distance Paul Pogba enjoyed better accuracy and when Antonio Mirante parried his drive into harm’s way, Llorente arrived at speed to tuck home a neat finish.
Jose Mauri got Gianluigi Buffon working with a fierce attempt off his right boot in the 27th minute but the effort gave Parma false hope and they soon fell two goals behind.
Juve’s second was a goal of real beauty as Lichtsteiner shaped his body to send the ball on a curving arc that was too good for Mirante and nestled in the top corner.
The Bianconeri caught their breath before resuming their assault in the 36th minute, which saw Lichtsteiner burst down the right before finding Llorente for an easy conversion at the far post.
A fourth before the break might have been cruel on Parma, so they were grateful to Tevez as his shot on the turn missed the mark in the seconds preceding half-time.
Abdelkader Ghezzal sparked fresh hope in the Parma team with his angled attempt immediately after the restart, but it was yet another false dawn.
Tevez got the Juventus Stadium bouncing once again with a fine fourth at the end of a mazy dribble that left three Gialloblu defenders standing.
The Argentinian doubled up in the 58th minute. Parma’s centre-backs were caught ball-watching when Mirante repelled Pogba’s effort and Tevez capitalised to thrash the ball home.
Parma enjoyed 18 minutes without conceding but shipped a sixth when Morata controlled fellow substitute Kingsley Coman’s ball over the top before beating Mirante with ease.
Goal number seven arrived two minutes from time as Morata tucked home Lichtsteiner’s dainty pass to convert his own brace and compound Parma’s misery.
