MILAN (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as voracious Italian champions Juventus finished 2018 on a high with a 2-1 win over Sampdoria to set a new record of 53 points before the winter break.
Ronaldo curled in the opener after just two minutes in Turin adding a second from the penalty spot after 66 minutes, putting the Portuguese top of Serie A's scoring charts on 14 goals.
Evergreen Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella pulled the Genoa outfit level with a penalty after 33 minutes, with the visitors having a late Riccardo Saponara goal ruled offside after consultation with the video assistant referee.
VAR proved decisive in the game with Sampdoria coach Marco Giampaolo, dismissing Ronaldo's penalty as "a gift," adding "that Saponara goal should never have been cancelled".
"Juventus are strong, they consume everything. They are a cannibal," said Giampaolo.
"For me, morally, the game was 2-2."
Juventus open up a 12-point lead at the top of Serie A ahead of Napoli who can reduce the gap when they host Bologna later on Saturday.
The seven-time reigning champions also have a record number of points before the three-week winter break with 53 from 19 games.
"Records are meaningless, if not to improve and raise the bar," said coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose team target a first trophy of the season in the Italian SuperCup on Jan 16 against AC Milan.
The reigning champions have dropped points just twice, being held 1-1 by Genoa at home in October and 2-2 against Atalanta midweek, and are firmly on track for an eighth consecutive Scudetto.
VAR DECISIVE
Ronaldo had come off the bench to score in Bergamo last Wednesday but returned to the starting line-up in the Allianz Stadium.
And the Portuguese striker found a way through early, picking up a Paulo Dybala cross to fire in past Sampdoria's on loan Juventus goalkeeper Emil Audero.
Sampdoria pulled level following a penalty awarded following an Emre Can handball with Quagliarella making no mistake beating Mattia Perin in the Juventus goal.
The 35-year-old became the first player to score in nine consecutive Serie A games since David Trezeguet for Juventus in 2005.
Audero denied Dybala before the break with Mario Mandzukic missing a chance to finish off a Ronaldo cross.
The Sampdoria goalkeeper again deflected over a Ronaldo header on the hour but the hosts went ahead when the referee pointed to the spot for an Alex Ferrari handball off a corner after a VAR viewing.
Substitute Saponara looked to have grabbed a point deep into injury time but VAR ruled he was in an offside position as Sampdoria stay fifth, two points behind Lazio who occupy the final Champions League spot.
"I like VAR a lot because it reduces the number of mistakes," said Ronaldo.
"It's not easy for the match officials to analyse everything that goes on in a match. We just have to let them get on with their jobs."
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner joined Juventus from Real Madrid last summer.
"The first half of the season has gone really well," said the 33-year-old, "but there's still a long way to go. We must stay focused and keep working away if we want to achieve great things."
Inter Milan, in third, travel to Tuscany outfit Empoli on Saturday, without their fans, who are barred after racism and violence overshadowed their midweek game against Napoli in the San Siro.
MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City and Liverpool have raised the bar in what is required to win a Premier League title after a blockbuster campaign by both teams. If both sides win
Guardiola: Man City have raised the bar in EPL, Latest
Luis Suarez to miss China Cup for Uruguay due to ankle sprain Luis Suarez, 32, is expected to miss between 10 and 15 days after limping off late in Sunday's 4-1 win at Real Betis in La Liga.
Injured Luis Suarez Ruled Out of China Cup - News18
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is set to seal a money-spinning move to Italian champions Juventus when his contract expires with the Gunners in the summer, according to reports on Thursday. The
Ramsey set to cash in with Juventus move — reports
Marouane Fellaini Leaves Man Utd For China's Shandong "Manchester United can confirm that Marouane Fellaini has left the club on a permanent transfer," United said in a statement on
Marouane Fellaini leaves Man Utd for China's Shandong
Join a game of kahoot here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn - any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!
Log in - Kahoot!
Home Sport Football Olivier Giroud demands important role at Chelsea FC next season. Olivier Giroud demands important role at Chelsea FC next season Niger FA chief vows to improve youths
Giroud demands important Chelsea role next season - Chronicle.ng
Argentina have appointed 80-year-old former coach Cesar Luis Menotti as director of national teams, the Argentine Football Association said on Monday. Menotti, who led Argentina to their first
Football: Menotti named Argentina's director of national teams
Morata double earns Spain scrappy win (1:05) Spain produced a second lacklustre performance in the space of four days in an unimpressive 0-2 win in Malta.
Euro2020: Morata's Brace Lift Spain Above Malta - Red Cheetah
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez has vowed to "isolate" his players from politics at the Asian Cup, which is taking place in the United Arab Emirates during a diplomatic crisis between the countries. The tournament represents the first visit by the Qatari national side to the UAE since the beginning of a
Save unfinished captains bed to get e-mail alerts and updates on your eBay Feed. + Items in search results AMISH ~ Rustic Pine FULL UNFINISHED CAPTAIN'S STORAGE Platform Bed Drawers
S15.E00 Unfinished Business April 2, 2019 - Deadliest Catch
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 3-2 with two goals from Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday to advance to the German Cup final for the second straight year and keep the domestic
Bayern reach German Cup final to keep double in sight
Goal achieved despite everything going wrong. Cristiano Ronaldo rueing a missed chance in Juventus' 2-1 loss to Young Boys. But they still topped the group as Manchester United also lost.
Goal achieved despite everything going wrong - theworldnews.net
As for two-time champions Home United, they have already started will with a win over Albirex Niigata in the Community Shield. Winning via penalty shootout, this definitely gives the team a boost
Free-scoring Home United and Albirex Niigata lead the way in
Vertonghen to see neurologist over head injury AFP May 1, 2019 AFP No Comments London (AFP) - Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen will see a neurologist on Thursday after suffering a horrific head injury during his side's Champions League semi-final defeat against Ajax.
0 comments:
Post a Comment