Juventus 2-1 Sassuolo
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first two Serie A goals and could have had a hatful as he inspired Juventus to another win, this time over Sassuolo.
He’s finally off the mark in Serie A, and these were two crucial goals after Sassuolo had made it tough for the Bianconeri for almost an hour. The visitors started the match in third place and so far unbeaten, but in the end, just couldn’t cope with Ronaldo’s brilliance.
And they almost spoilt the party with a late onslaught as Khouma Babacar pulled one back with minutes remaining.
So Juventus stays top of Serie A by three points and their big summer signing is well and truly at home.
Despite their seven-year domination, Juve fans will always have an eye on Serie A 2018 updates from elsewhere. Napoli’s narrow win over Fiorentina kept the Bianconeri well aware of the quality teams ready to do all they can, this year, to take their crown.
Highlights of the game
There was a sense of real anticipation in Turin as Cristiano Ronaldo began the game still looking for a Serie A goal, and he had two attempts in the opening minutes, his first effort was charged down after he’d taken a pass from Blaise Matuidi. And then, Alex Sandro found the Portugal star with a cross but this time Ronaldo’s header flew wide. That was 25 attempts on goal and counting for the Bianconeri’s new superstar.
Emre Can came close with an effort from distance as Juventus began to get into their stride and Ronaldo continued to stretch the visitors’ defence.
Sassuolo striker Domenico Berardi has been talked about in the boardrooms of some of Europe’s top clubs, but the 24 years old was called into defensive duty, earning a yellow card for his trouble with a foul on Can. Up stepped Ronaldo but, once again, his free-kick flew agonisingly wide.
Berardi began to make an impact at the right end of the pitch having a couple of efforts from distance, but both were charged down, and Can again came close for Juve, with a shot from outside the box.
As the half wore on Sassuolo began to look comfortable with Kevin-Prince Boateng seeing more of the ball, and by the half-time whistle, they had had more than their share of possession.
The Serie A 2018 betting odds don’t have the Neroverdi as a top-four hopeful, but on the first half performance they showed they can certainly live with Italy’s best.
But then it came. Within five minutes of the restart, the moment that the fans packed into the Allianz Stadium had been waiting for finally materialised. Juventus had a corner and as the ball flew over it found that man Ronaldo who made no mistake from point-blank range.
It’s been a fantastic start to the season for Roberto de Zerbi’s Sassuolo and they weren’t ready to roll over, Pol Lirola found Boateng in the centre of the box and his shot flew past the left-hand post. But the visitors’ attempt to get back into the game was their undoing. As the players piled forward for a corner, Juventus cleared and broke quickly with Can putting Ronaldo through down the left and he fired low and hard into the opposite corner.
You wait so long for one goal and then two come along just like that!
Ronaldo had his tail up now and, having broken his duck, was desperate for his first Serie A hat-trick, but Andrea Consigli denied him with a smart save in the bottom corner. Another couple of chances came his way in the closing stages and he came so close, missing one to the left and the other to the right.
The Juventus celebrations were briefly put on hold when Sassuolo pulled one back at the start if injury time. Cristian Dell’Orco crossed and Khouma Babacar planted his header home to make it 2-1.
Then, there was drama at the death when Berardi was denied a late equaliser by a save low in the corner, and Juve’s Douglas Costa, who’d been booked two minutes earlier saw red for violent conduct.
Key statistics
The Sbobet odds had Juventus at 1.23, to win this game, and while Sassuolo made it very hard in the first 45 minutes, there was no stopping Cristiano Ronaldo in the second. But the visitors were close to spoiling Ronaldo’s party with a late flourish.
And they’d had plenty of the game, with 57 per cent possession and 15 shots to Juve’s 18.
This win makes it a perfect start for Juve, with four wins in four, while Sassuolo has lost for the first time this season. And now the Bianconeri has won nine of the 11 meetings with the Neroverdi.
What’s next?
Max Allegri’s men now head off to Spain and the hostile environment of the Mestalla to take on Valencia in their Champions League opener in Group H.
Meanwhile, Sassuolo is at home to mid-table Empoli, and that’s a chance for Zerbi’s side to get back to winning ways.
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