Result: Juventus 2-1 Lazio
Date: 20 July 2020
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Cristiano Ronaldo moved to 30 Serie A goals for the season as his brace guided Juventus to a 2-1 victory over Lazio on Monday night.
Bianconeri manager Maurizio Sarri made four alterations from the side that was held by Sassuolo, as Douglas Costa, Leonardo Bonucci and Adrien Rabiot were recalled alongside Aaron Ramsey.
The hosts came close to getting an early opener in the 11th minute after Matthijs de Ligt volleyed a ball back into the danger zone where Alex Sandro was at hand to power a header but his effort came off the post.
Juventus were gaining momentum midway through the first stanza but they could not apply the finishing touches in the last third while Lazio were struggling to get out of their own half.
Rabiot had a chance to finally break the deadlock with nine minutes remaining of the first stanza after slaloming his way past the defence but his shot from inside the box was smothered by goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.
However, out of nowhere Simone Inzaghi's charges almost stole the lead on the stroke of half-time after Ciro Immobile tried his luck with a strike from 25-yards out that crashed against the post as the first stanza ended without goals.
Sarri's troops had a dream start in the second stanza as they were awarded a penalty five minutes from the break after Bastos blocked Ronaldo's shot with his arm just inside the box, with the Video Assistant Referee changing the decision from a free-kick on the edge of the box to a penalty.
Ronaldo went up to take the spot-kick and side-footed a powerful shot into the bottom corner, with Strakosha going the right way but unable to stop it
Bianconeri doubled their lead five minutes later as Paulo Dybala won possession high up the pitch and went clear on goal inside the box to tee up Ronaldo, who tapped in from six-yards to complete his brace.
Juventus were all over the visitors after the hour-mark, as Ronaldo came close to adding a third goal in the 66th minute after he was picked out by Dybala with a teasing cross but his header clipped the top of the crossbar.
Lazio were opening up at the back and Dybala had a glorious chance to make it 3-0 with 18 minutes remaining after going one-on-one with Strakosha inside the six-yard box but the Albanian goalkeeper pulled off a great save.
However, Inzaghi's troops were adventurous going forward and they were finally rewarded seven minutes before time with a penalty awarded in their favour after Bonucci brought down Immobile, who drilled his strike into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit.
Lazio continued to pose a threat going forward in the closing minutes, desperate for the equaliser but Sarri's men managed to hold on to a 2-1 win that took them eight points clear at the top of the log while the visitors were left in fourth place.
