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Juventus 4 Cagliari 0: Higuain on target as Bianconeri go top

Gonzalo Higuain celebrated his return to the starting line-up with his fourth goal in five games as Juventus routed Cagliari 4-0 to move top of Serie A.

The Argentina striker, who signed from rivals Napoli for €90million in the transfer window, was controversially omitted from Juve's XI in the 2-1 Derby d'Italia defeat to rivals Inter at the weekend.

Massimiliano Allegri handed a first start of the season to defender Daniele Rugani and the 22-year-old repaid his faith with Juve's opening goal after 14 minutes.

Higuain's effort and Dani Alves' first for the club made it 3-0 before half-time and Juventus were home and dry when Mario Lemina's effort deflected off Luca Ceppitelli in the closing stages.

Juve's early dominance was rewarded in the 14th minute when Rugani fired into an unguarded goal after Higuain's superb volley from Pjanic's chipped free-kick was only parried by Storari.

Giorgio Chiellini made an important block to prevent Davide Di Gennaro from levelling, but Higuain soon had a deserved goal with a thumping rebound-header from Pjanic's shot.