Serie A Report: Juventus v AS Roma

Feb 6, 2021 - 08:58 pm

By SL International

Result: Juventus 2-0 AS Roma

Date: 06 February 2021

Venue: Allianz Stadium

Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his 300th goal since turning 30 as Juventus defeated AS Roma 2-0 in Serie A action on Saturday night.

Andrea Pirlo made seven changes to the side that beat Inter in the Coppa Italia during the week. Wojcech Szczesny returned between the posts, while Danilo, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini all came into the backline. Arthur and Federico Chiesa slotted into the midfield, while Alvaro Morata partnered Ronaldo in the final third.

Juve took the lead in the 13th minute. Alex Sandro worked a pass to Morata, who fed Ronaldo on the edge of the box. The forward had a strike to nothing on his left boot and he placed his effort expertly into the bottom-right corner.

Soon after, Roma striker Borja Mayoral tried to force a strike through a crowd of Juve defenders. It struck Adrien Rabiot and rebounded to Bryan Cristante, who launched a first-time strike on the volley towards goal, but his effort was just wide of the left post.

Ronaldo was then denied by the underside of the bar. The Portuguese collected an offload from Morata and lined up a strike in the right inside channel. Kumbulla threw himself in the way of the strike and deflected the effort on its way. Ronaldo watched his attempt travel past Lopez, but hit the bar and bounce to safety.

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 6, 2021

In the 36th minute, Gianluca Mancini rose highest in the box to direct Jordan Veretout's cross towards goal, but he nodded his effort just wide of the right post.

Five minutes later, Ronaldo broke behind Kumbulla down the right flank to latch on to Morata's ball over the top. He struck a right-footed effort first time at goal, only to see his attempt denied by a sharp save from Lopez.

Shortly before the hour mark, Ronaldo twisted and turns but saw his path to goal blocked in the left inside channel. He worked the ball back to Morata to strike on his left foot, but the forward sent his effort wide of the left post.

The home side doubled their lead in the 69th minute. Juan Cuadrado released Dejan Kulusevski in the right inside channel and the forward placed a dangerous delivery across the face of goal. Ibanez had to act with Ronaldo behind him, but he could only steer his attempted clearance into the back of the net.

Roma then went surging forward and Bruno Peres angled a dangerous cross into the box from the right flank, but Edin Dzeko on the slide in the middle just could not connect on the slide as Juve came away with the three points.