WATCH: Dybala Hat Trick, Douglas Costa Golazo Lead Juventus By Benevento
ROME (AP) – Paulo Dybala scored a hat trick and Serie A leader Juventus overcame a series of defensive lapses in a 4-2 win at last-place Benevento on Saturday.
Cheick Diabate scored twice for Benevento before Dybala converted the second of his two penalties in the 74th minute to finally put Juventus ahead for good. Douglas Costa, a substitute, sealed the victory with a long-range goal in the 82nd.
Juventus provisionally moved seven points clear of Napoli, which hosts Chievo Verona on Sunday.
Coming off a debilitating 3-0 loss at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals, and ahead of next week's second leg, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri rested several regular starters.
Dybala opened the scoring with a shot from the edge of the area into the far corner midway through the first half.
Diabete, a Mali forward, notched his first from close range after he was left unmarked following a rebound off goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who played in place of Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon.
Just before the break, the VAR awarded Juventus a penalty that Dybala converted for contact between Berat Djimsiti and Miralem Pjanic.
Diabate rose above defender Medhi Benatia to head in another equalizer in the 51st for his fifth goal in four matches since arriving on loan from Turkish club Osmanlispor.
Ten minutes after he was sent on, Gonzalo Higuain earned a penalty and Dybala again was perfect from the spot, giving him a personal-best 21 goals in the league.