Ronaldo shines again as Juventus thump Udinese

(Reuters) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and created one other objective as Juventus received again to profitable methods in Serie A with a 4-1 victory over Udinese in Turin on Sunday, shifting the champions as much as fifth within the standings.

Ronaldo opened the scoring with a trademark drive, after latching on to Aaron Ramsey’s move within the thirty first minute, earlier than threading an ideal by means of ball into the trail of Federico Chiesa to attain Juve’s second objective 4 minutes into the second half.

The VAR had a busy night in Turin. First, the referee was requested to seek the advice of the pitch-side monitor earlier than ruling out what Udinese thought was the opener for a handball early on, earlier than Aaron Ramsey suffered the identical destiny when he was penalised for handball, after a re-evaluation.

Ronaldo’s second objective put the outcome past any doubt as he took his objective tally to 14 league objectives for the season — two greater than anybody else in Serie A — within the seventieth minute, with Marvin Zeegelaar scoring an injury-time comfort for Udinese.

There was nonetheless time for Paulo Dybala to attain one other objective for Juventus as Andrea Pirlo’s aspect moved 10 factors behind leaders AC Milan, with a sport in hand, whereas Udinese drop to thirteenth and are with out a win of their final 4 video games.

Pirlo admitted his workforce had initially struggled to make an influence because the gamers have been nonetheless haunted by reminiscences of their shock 3-0 defeat by Fiorentina of their last sport earlier than the winter break.

“We began frightened after the match towards Fiorentina, we have been afraid of the depth of the opponents,” Pirlo instructed Sky Sports activities.

“Little by little we grew up and within the second half we did higher. It wasn’t one of the best Juventus.”

Juventus thought that they had once more fallen behind when Rodrigo de Paul fired house from shut vary.

Udinese celebrated, however the referee was requested to look once more at whether or not De Paul had dealt with earlier within the transfer, earlier than the objective was dominated out.

Ronaldo then took centre stage along with his emphatic first-half end, an excellent higher move for Juve’s second and a wonderful third.

Welshman Ramsey thought he had scored his first objective of the season within the second half, however once more it was dominated out for handball.

Dybala’s injury-time strike accomplished a flattering scoreline for Juventus, given Udinese had hit the woodwork twice within the match and missed quite a few different possibilities.

“Dybala … was explosive,” added Pirlo.

“He performed among the finest video games this yr, he was extra alive and keen and slowly he’ll discover one of the best type. We want him and he wants us.”