Early season pacesetters Roma had spurned the chance to regain top spot earlier when Rudi Garcia’s men had to settle for their fourth draw in succession, 1-1 away to Atalanta.
Juve seized the chance to widen the gap but missed an embarrassing amount of chances before Llorente secured the points after heading Stephan Lichesteiner’s shot past Zeljko Brkic in second-half injury time.
Juve’s 12th win of the season -- their sixth consecutively, all with clean sheets -- leaves them three points clear of Roma with Napoli in third, a further six points adrift, ahead of their trip to Lazio on Monday when Fiorentina, in fifth, also host Verona.
Juve had relaunched their Champions League last 16 bid with a 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen in midweek and after Roma’s slip-up, Antonio Conte’s men needed no reminding of what would be required.
Juve’s frustrations were finally ended when Llorente reacted quickly to Lichsteiner’s shot from the edge of the area to head past the wrong-footed Brkic.
Juve seized the chance to widen the gap but missed an embarrassing amount of chances before Llorente secured the points after heading Stephan Lichesteiner’s shot past Zeljko Brkic in second-half injury time.
Juve’s 12th win of the season -- their sixth consecutively, all with clean sheets -- leaves them three points clear of Roma with Napoli in third, a further six points adrift, ahead of their trip to Lazio on Monday when Fiorentina, in fifth, also host Verona.
Juve had relaunched their Champions League last 16 bid with a 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen in midweek and after Roma’s slip-up, Antonio Conte’s men needed no reminding of what would be required.
Juve’s frustrations were finally ended when Llorente reacted quickly to Lichsteiner’s shot from the edge of the area to head past the wrong-footed Brkic.