Cristiano Ronaldo and Aaron Ramsey on target as Juventus overwhelm Sassuolo to close on AC Milan
ByReuters
Updated 10/01/2021 at 22:59 GMT
Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 15th goal of the season, and Aaron Ramsey found the target for the first time this term as Juventus beat Sassuolo 3-1. The win moves Juve to within seven points of leaders AC Milan, having played one game fewer. Andrea Pirlo's side backed up their win over the Serie A pace setters earlier in the week
Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus-Sassuolo - Serie A 2020/2021 - Getty Images
Image credit: Getty Images
Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Welshman Aaron Ramsey helped Juventus to secure a 3-1 victory over 10-man Sassuolo in Serie A on Sunday, lifting the champions to fourth place in the standings.
Following their win at leaders AC Milan in midweek, Juventus struggled to create many chances in the first half, but their cause was aided after Pedro Obiang was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Federico Chiesa just before half-time.
Juventus capitalised on the numerical advantage as Danilo was left in plenty of space to fire home a fierce opener in the 50th minute, but the lead lasted just eight minutes as Gregoire Defrel levelled to stun the hosts.
Ramsey, who has been in and out of the side this season, put Juve in front in the 82nd minute with his first goal of the season. In contrast, Serie A top scorer Ronaldo took his season's tally to 15 as he struck in stoppage-time to complete the win.
The result helped Juve close the gap on leaders Milan to seven points, having played one game fewer. Sassuolo stay seventh.
After scoring three times in Milan in midweek, Juve’s strikeforce could not get going in the first half at the Juventus Stadium.
Obiang’s dismissal, however, gave Juve a boost, with the referee issuing a straight red card after the VAR asked the official to have another look at the midfielder's studs-up tackle on Chiesa.
Danilo’s third Juventus goal settled the hosts' nerves, but Sassuolo, enjoying a fine season, were not overawed despite being a man down as Defrel fired them level and they had several other chances to take the lead.
Ramsey, who replaced the injured Weston McKennie in the first half, got the all-important second, arriving on cue to meet a Gianluca Frabotta cross, before Ronaldo drilled home to make sure of a third successive win for Juve.
As well as losing McKennie to injury, Paulo Dybala failed to finish the game on account of a knee problem which manager Andrea Pirlo is hopeful is not serious.
“Dybala had a knock to the ligament on the inside of his knee," Pirlo told Sky Italia. "We’ll evaluate it over the next few days and hope it’s nothing serious.
“McKennie already had a slight muscular problem yesterday and he felt it again after the back-heel flick, so he came off."
Scan me
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement