Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the only player to score at least 15 goal in each of the last 15 seasons as Juventus overcome the resistance of Sassuolo to claim maximum points in Turin.
Sassuolo were reduced to 10men late in the first half after Pedro Obiang lounges in and caught Federico Chiesa by the ankle, and the after referee Davide Massa reviewed the incidence on the VAR, changed the first awarded yellow to red card.
Danilo gave Adrea Pirlo’s side the lead five minutes after restart, unleashing a wonderful strike from 18 yards out. However, the lead lasted only eight minutes as Martinique international Gregoire Defrel, who makes his 100th appearance for Sassuolo leveled up with a sliding shot after connecting with the pass from Hamed Traore.
Juventus were rewarded for their dominance in the closing stages as fatigue set in for 10man Sassuolo as Welshman Aaron Ramsey capitalized on a dodgy defending to restore Juventus back in the lead in the 81st minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo got his goal late in added time on the counter after Sassuolo commit men forward in search for an equaliser. Danilo’s pass from almost inside his own 18-yard box finds Cristiano, who guided the ball into the area amid pressure from defenders, before firing his shot past Andrea Consigli in goal.
The win now takes Juventus to 33 points with a game in hand, seven points behind AC Milan, who beat Torino 2-0 on Saturday. They close in on Roma and Inter, who drew two all in the weekend.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
