Juventus stayed top of the Italian Serie A despite a 3-1 defeat at Genoa Sunday as youngster Giovanni Simeone struck twice for the in-form hosts, dpa reported. The reigning champions stayed on 33 points from 14 games and are still four clear of AC Milan, who hammered Empoli 4-1 Saturday. Lazio are third on 28 after winning 1-0 at Palermo. Juve struggled under the hosts' breathtaking start and were stunned three times in the first half hour, after having conceded nine goals in the previous 13 games. "I think we played a great game moving fast and managing to get the most from our chances and we had quite a few," Genoa coach Ivan Juric said. "We were also lucky. We played well but all went well for us. Of course I have to praise my lads. They did a great job." A glaring error from Leonardo Bonucci got Gianluigi Buffon in trouble, forcing him to produce three saves before the son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone flicked home the opening goal in the third minute. The 21-year-old was free to nod a second 10 minutes later off Darko Lazovic, and in the 29th the Bianconeri defence embarrassed themselves at a corner kick, repeatedly failing to clear until Alex Sandro deflected into his own goal for 3-0. Miralem Pjanic and Sami Khedira missed Juve's first chances after the break, before Buffon was crucial again to block a Simeone counter on 56 minutes. Striker Gonzalo Higuain came on for defender Stephan Lichtsteiner but had no telling impact on the game and Juve were playing with 10 men by the time Pjainc curled home a free-kick in the 83rd. Dani Alves was stretchered off the pitch in the 79th, but could not be replaced as Bonucci exited with a pulled a muscle in the 33rd and Stefano Sturaro came on for Khedira on 70.
