Juventus 2-1 Lazio
This was supposed to be one of the biggest matches in the 2019/20 Serie A season, only if the gap between these two clubs isn’t bigger than it is now.
As the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo reaches another career milestone, he has propelled his team on the cusp of winning their ninth successive Scudetto, according to our latest Serie A 2020 odds.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner bagged home a brace in just a span of four minutes to secure another win for Juventus – which puts them at least eight points clear from the Serie A table runner-ups.
And with four more matchdays left in the season, Maurizio Sarri’s side can definitely taste it now.
“Records are always important, but the important thing is that the team wins,” said Ronaldo during the post-game interview.
“There are four games to go, we cannot get this wrong and we know Serie A is tough. The team is doing well though,” he added.
As for their visitors in Lazio, the loss effectively sank them to the fourth spot at the table with 69 points. Their form has been shaky ever since the start of July and that led them to their downward spiral.
Today, SBOBET brings you last night’s package of Serie A 2020 highlights.
Highlights of the game
After failing to win in their last three matches, the Bianconeri made sure that their feet was on the gas pedal all night against Lazio as they were coming off a loss against AC Milan, and two straight draws against Atalanta and a lowly side in Sassuolo.
Alex Sandro, who was the one who rescued Juventus to avert a collapse against Sassuolo, tested the Biancocelesti’s defence by trying a header off of a cross from Matthijs de Ligt in the 11th minute, but it hit the post.
Fast forward to 24 minutes later, the Bianconeri pursued a counterattack when Adrien Rabiot received a clever through ball from Cristiano Ronaldo. However, his solo effort was quashed by Thomas Strakosha to deny their first goal.
Lazio missed a viable chance to draw first blood as well a few minutes later after Juventus’ defence failed to clear the ball. Ciro Immobile was quick to intercept a pass but his rocket of an attempt hit the side of the post.
Shortly after, Cristiano Ronaldo tried to find the back of the net when he rebounded a Paulo Dybala miss after a Thomas Strakosha save, but a Lazio defender did a goalmouth clearance to maintain the level score to end the first half.
In the second half, Juventus kept on attacking at will and it finally paid off in the 51st minute.
After a fantastic defensive effort by Francesco Acerbi following a volley attempt by Adrien Rabiot, the ball ricocheted right through Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo let off a rasping strike but it was blocked by Bastos unfortunately with his hand in the way.
The VAR confirmed that it was a handball, and Cristiano Ronaldo proceeded to score his 50th goal in Serie A via penalty.
Three minutes later, Luiz Felipe slipped and lost the ball in the midfield and that gave Juventus another crack at a counterattack.
Paulo Dybala smartly teed up Cristiano Ronaldo for his second goal of the evening as Thomas Strakosha helplessly tried to thwart their run.
The young Argentinian would link up with Ronaldo once more when he launched a cross for a header, but Ronaldo’s banger clanged off the crossbar as he missed out on a hat-trick.
With a win already in the bag for Juventus, their complacency on the defence cost them a goal late in this match.
Leonardo Bonucci’s nonchalant defending drew a penalty in favour of Lazio when he failed to clear the ball and knocked Ciro Immobile down in the process.
Ciro Immobile would score the penalty for Lazio’s first goal of the evening to cut the deficit into half.
In what was a last gasp attempt for Biancocelesti, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic fired a goal attempt via a set piece, but Juve have Wojciech Szczesny to thank for with a fine save.
Key statistics
History is made anew at least for Cristiano Ronaldo, as he became the fastest player ever to score 50 goals in Serie A in just 61 games.
The Portuguese star also became the first-ever player to score 50 goals in Serie A, La Liga, and in the Premier League.
Ciro Immobile, like Cristiano Ronaldo, became the second player this season to reach 30 goals in Serie A.
The two of them equalised the Serie A record for most penalty conversions in a single season: 12 by Lazio’s Giuseppe Signori back in 1996.
What’s next?
While the Capocannoniere may feel like a formality now, Juve would still need to take care of business as they will fly over to the Dacia Arena to visit Udinese on Friday.
Meanwhile, Lazio will face Cagliari and Hellas Verona in their next two contests.
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