JUVENTUS extended their winning run with a 4-1 win over Torino to open up a seven-point gap over Lazio with nine games remaining in Serie A on Saturday.
Paulo Dybala opened the scoring just three minutes in after a weaving run through the box before Cuadrado doubled their lead. Torino managed to pull one back after a VAR decision saw them being awarded a penalty just before half-time for a Matthijs de Ligt handball which Andrea Belotti subsequently converted it.
Ronaldo then scored a wonderful free-kick from just outside the box, with a Djidji own goal finishing off the scoring late on. Cristiano Ronaldo then scored a wonderful free-kick from just outside the box, with a Koffi Djidji own goal finishing the scoring off late on. But Ronaldo was by no means a constant nuisance to the Torino defence but set up Juan Cuadrado before scoring a brilliant goal of his own.
Juve had made a lightning start and opened the scoring through a fine Dybala effort before Ronaldo teed up Cuadrado, who set up the opener, for their second at the Allianz Stadium. A Belotti penalty gave the visitors a lifeline just before half-time as Gianluigi Buffon was beaten in his record 648th top-flight appearance. Ronaldo struck with a wonderful free-kick in the 61st minute and Djidji’s own goal added to Torino’s misery as The Old Lady put further pressure on Lazio.
It took the Italian champions just three minutes to take charge of the encounter, as Cuadrado found Dybala in the box and the Argentinian’s quick feet saw him weave past two defenders before slotting home. Cuadrado was involved again just before the half-hour mark, this time, jinking on to his right foot and finishing emphatically after Ronaldo led a counter and set the winger up.
Torino did pull one back on the stroke of half-time; Belotti slotting a penalty past Buffon after de Ligt blocked Simone Verdi’s initial shot with his arm. The visitors briefly thought they had levelled early in the second half but Belotti had strayed offside in the build-up.
Advantage increased for Juve just past the hour-mark, as Ronaldo stepped up to a 30-yard free-kick and sent an unstoppable effort into the top-left corner. The visitors’ haplessness was summed up by Djidji’s late own goal, the defender turning Douglas Costa’s cross past Salvatore Sirigu. Juve go to Milan on Tuesday while Torino host Brescia the following day.
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