Ronaldo helps Juve keep perfect record
MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo erased the frustration of his Champions League red card mid-week by scoring the opener and setting up Federico Bernardeschi for a second as Juventus kept their perfect record in Serie A after five games with a 2-0 win against a promoted Frosinone on Sunday.
The Portugese star had threatened several times at the Stadio Benito Stirpe but finally found a way through nine minutes from time, and then helped Italian Bernardeschi to score Juve’s second four minutes into injury time. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had scored his first goals last week with a double in a 2-1 win over Sassuolo, before the 33-year-old was sent off on Wednesday in a 2-0 Champions League win over Valencia.
Juventus have 15 points from five games, three points ahead of Napoli who beat Torino 3-1 earlier on Sunday.
Seven-time reigning champions Juventus and Napoli will go head-to-head next Saturday in Turin. Frosinone had frustrated the champions for long periods but caved in late and have now conceded 12 goals to remain second bottom of the table with one point.
PIQUE RESCUES BARCA
BARCELONA: Barcelona’s 100 percent winning start to the season came to a halt on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 La Liga draw by Girona, having been reduced to 10 men for the final 55 minutes. Lionel Messi gave the Catalans the lead in the first half before Cristhian Stuani grabbed a brace for Girona. Gerard Pique’s equaliser saw Barca end with a point. The result meant Barca lost their two-point lead over Real Madrid. Both teams have 13 points from five games.
Sevilla compensated for last week’s home defeat to Getafe by resoundingly thrashing Levante 6-2 away, while Real Betis battled back to draw 2-2 at home to Athletic Bilbao. Valencia were held to a goalless draw at Villarreal.