Cristiano Ronaldo set up Paulo Dybala to score early and added one himself with defender Leonardo Bonucci also on target as Juventus surged 14 points clear in Serie A on Friday with a 3-0 win over lowly Frosinone.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri was taking no chances, even against a side sitting second bottom of the table, ahead of next week’s Champions League last 16, first-leg tie at Atletico Madrid.
Dybala returned to the front line alongside Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic with key defenders Bonnucci and Giorgio Chiellini both back from injury.
“The team is growing in terms of fitness, it’s a decisive moment for the season,” said Allegri.
Juventus is building towards next week’s game in Madrid and a top-of-the table clash against Napoli in the San Paolo Stadium on March 3.
“We struggled a bit after the winter break but now we are ready to face this important moment of the season both in the championship and the Champions League,” added Allegri.
Juventus remains unbeaten this season but the reigning seven-time league champion had been held 3-3 by Parma two weeks ago.
Bonucci returned after three weeks out with an ankle injury along with captain Chiellini, who limped off during their shock Coppa Italia exit on January 30.
Ronaldo set up Dybala to rifle in with his left foot after just six minutes in Turin as the Argentina forward, who has been overshadowed since the arrival of the former Real Madrid player, scored his first league goal since November 3.
Ten minutes later Bonucci broke through after a desperate goalmouth scramble.
Frosinone goalkeeper Marco Sportiello denied Mandzukic’s diving header with Bonucci in place to turn the rebound into goal.
Ronaldo slotted in his 19th Serie A goal and 21st in all competitions on 62 minutes with Rodrigo Bentancur crossing for Mandzukic, who provided the assist for the Portuguese striker.
Ronaldo was then replaced by Federico Bernardeschi with the tie against Atletico in mind, with Sportiello denying Juventus a fourth goal keeping out a powerful Bernardeschi free kick.
“I’m happy for Paulo, he scored a good goal and that’s what strikers live for,” said Allegri.
“The game against Atletico Madrid will be very different. It’s crucial that we get a goal there, otherwise qualification would be rather difficult to achieve.
“But this team is growing, we are even better than the first weeks (of the season).”
Bayern Munich conceded the fastest own-goal in Bundesliga history on Friday and twice had to equalise before securing a 3-2 win at Augsburg in its final tune-up before its Champions League tie at Liverpool.
Ahead of Tuesday’s last 16, first-leg clash at Anfield, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will have watched with interest how Augsburg, which sits just above the Bundesliga relegation places, caused Bayern a few problems.
The away league win means defending champion Bayern trimmed the gap to just two points behind leader Borussia Dortmund, which is at bottom side Nuremberg on Monday.
With one eye on Anfield, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer returned after three games out with a thumb injury, but conceded two goals in the opening 24 minutes — the first after just 13 seconds.
Leon Goretzka claimed an unwanted record for the Bundesliga’s fastest own-goal when he turned the ball into his own net.
Kingsley Coman then twice equalised in the opening half, cancelling out the own-goal then levelling at the half-time break after South Korea international Ji Dong-won had restored Augsburg’s lead.
David Alaba scored Bayern’s winning goal early in the second half, but Bayern will need to improve to trouble Liverpool.
The results: Serie A: Juventus 3 (Dybala 6, Bonucci 17, Ronaldo 63) bt Frosinone 0.
Bundesliga: Augsburg 2 (Goretzka 1-og, Ji 24) lost to Bayern Munich 3 (Coman 17, 45, Alaba 53).
La Liga: Eibar 2 (Charles 67-pen, 80) drew with Getafe 2 (Mata 37, Foulquier 52).
