Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal of the match as Italian champions Juventus recorded a 1-0 win over Roma in Saturday night's Serie A clash in Turin.

The victory was Juve's 14th from 17 league matches this season and has moved the title holders seven points clear of second-placed Roma at the top of the division.

Higuain made the breakthrough in the 14th minute when the Argentine skipped past Kostas Manolas before striking into the top left-hand corner of the net, leaving Roma stopper Wojciech Szczesny with no chance.

The Argentine international might have doubled Juve's lead 10 minutes before the break when a corner found the striker in space, but Szczesny was on hand to make the save as it remained 1-0 at the interval.

Roma huffed and puffed as they went looking for an equaliser in the second period, but the better chances fell to the home side and Stefano Sturaro passed up two good opportunities to double Juve's advantage.

Stephan El Shaarawy and Bruno Peres were both thrown on for the visitors for the final 15 minutes, although chances were few and far between as the defending champions secured all the points ahead of the winter break in Serie A.