Result: Sampdoria 1-2 Juventus
Date: 18 December 2019
Venue: Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his fine form in front of goal as Juventus reclaimed top spot in Serie A with a 2-1 victory away to Sampdoria on Wednesday night.
Bianconeri manager Maurizio Sarri made only two changes from the thumping win over Udinese, as Miralem Pjanic and Alex Sandro got back to the starting line-up, that included the fearsome front trio of Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain.
Sampdoria were offering a lot of resistance in the early stages and they were unlucky not to take the lead in the 18th minute after midfielder Gaston Ramirez powered a header just over the bar from Jeison Murillo's cross.
It took a sumptuous left-footed low volley from Dybala a minute later for the hosts' defence to be breached, as the Argentine forward hit a first-time strike from Sandro's cross that found the bottom corner from the edge of the box, 0-1.
However, Claudio Ranieri's troops levelled matters with ten minutes remaining of the first stanza courtesy of Gianluca Caprari, who fired home an unstoppable low shot past Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after arriving late inside the box to pounce on a loose ball, 1-1.
The Old Lady were pressurising Sampdoria in the closing minutes of the half and Ronaldo eventually restored their lead on the stroke of half-time with a breathtaking and towering header at the back post that found the top corner from Sandro's cross, 1-2.
Juventus were searching for the third goal to kill of the match coming from the break and they were finding opportunities but were denied by Sampdoria shot-stopper Emil Audero on a number of occasions.
However, with 20 minutes remaining, Sarri was looking for more control in midfield as midfielder Aaron Ramsey replaced Higuain before Douglas Costa made his way onto the pitch seven minutes later Dybala.
Sampdoria's hopes a clinching an equaliser were dashed in stoppage time as Caprari was sent off after picking up a second yellow card as Juventus held on in the end to go three points clear at the top of the log with 42 points.
