Fluent starts for Juve, Napoli
Verona (Italy), Aug. 19: Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score on his Serie A debut but champions Juventus won 3-2 at Chievo as Carlo Ancelotti began life as Napoli coach with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at Lazio in two bruising opening matches of the 2018-2019 league season on Saturday.
Ronaldo, 33, who joined the Turin giants from Real Madrid last month in a deal worth 100 million euros, clenched his fists with delight as his team earned all three points despite his four missed chances.
“Happy for the first victory in the Juve jersey!” Ronaldo tweeted after the match.
Italian Federico Bernardeschi scored the winner in injury time minutes after Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino was knocked out and later hospitalised after colliding with the Portuguese superstar.
“Everyone was waiting for the goal. It’s a shame he couldn’t score but Sorrentino denied him a couple of times. He was happy we got the win anyway,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
“I’m happy with what he did and he’s happy with his performance.”
Ancelotti, meanwhile, was also relieved to keep a clean sheet as he returned to his native Italy after a successful trophy-laden nine years at clubs including Chelsea and Real Madrid.
The 59-year-old took over from Maurizio Sarri in the Napoli hotseat promising to end the club’s 28year wait for a Serie A trophy. But the southerners were pushed hard by Lazio. — AFP