Juventus end Atalanta's run in Serie A

Since the end of September, no one had been better in Serie A than Atalanta.

Relying on a long list of promising young players, many of them developed in the club's youth academy, Atalanta had put together six consecutive wins and a nine-match unbeaten streak.

The Bergamo club's streak ended Saturday with a 3-1 loss at Juventus, the five-time defending Italian champion.

Alex Sandro, Daniele Rugani and Mario Mandzukic scored for the hosts while all Atalanta could produce was a late goal from Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler.

"They should be a reference point for us. We can learn a lot from them," Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said.

"There was clearly a gap on the pitch tonight. We weren't able to impose ourselves."

The victory stretched Juve's lead to seven points ahead of Roma and AC Milan, who each play Sunday.

Roma faces Lazio in the Rome derby and Milan hosts struggling Crotone.