Ronaldo helps Juve move 11 points clear

MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty to cap a dominant 3-0 win for Juventus over Fiorentina as the Italian champions opened up an 11-point lead on top of Serie A.

Ronaldo slotted his 10th goal on Saturday in 14 league games from the spot after 79 minutes, to add to Rodrigo Bentancur’s opener after half an hour in Tuscany with captain Giorgio Chiellini volleying after 69 minutes.

The Portuguese star was substituted just afterwards for the first time this season after receiving a yellow card spending the last 10 minutes on the bench.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side have 40 points from 14 games with second-place Napoli on 29 points before they host Atalanta on Monday. It was Juventus’ fifth consecutive win in the championship and 13th in 14 games, as they have won all their away games.

“When you have such talented players in attack, they don’t need too many instructions and it’s important not to limit them,” said Allegri. “We just have to get the ball up to them.”

Mid-table Fiorentina threatened in the second half with Federico Chiesa and Jordan Veretout but fell to their first home defeat this season. Stefano Pioli’s team has not won in the league for more than two months.

Meanwhile, AC Milan got back to winning ways with second half goals from Patrick Cutrone and Franck Kessie sealing a comefrom-behind 2-1 win over promoted Parma on Sunday.