Ronaldo on target as Juve increase lead to 14 points
MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo set up Paulo Dybala to score early and added one himself with defender Leonardo Bonucci also on target as Juventus surged 14 points clear in Serie A with a 3-0 win over lowly Frosinone.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri was taking no chances, even against a side sitting second bottom of the table, ahead of next week’s Champions League last 16, first-leg tie at Atletico Madrid.
Dybala returned to the front line alongside Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic with key defenders Bonnucci and Giorgio Chiellini both back from injury.
“The team is growing in terms of fitness, it’s a decisive moment for the season,” said Allegri. Juventus are building towards next week’s game in Madrid and a top-of-the table clash against Napoli in the San Paolo Stadium on March 3.
“We struggled a bit after the winter break but now we are ready to face this important moment of the season both in the championship and the Champions League,” Allegri told reporters after the match. Juventus remain unbeaten this season but the reigning seven-time league champions had been held 3-3 by Parma two weeks ago.
SALA’S FUNERAL TAKES PLACE IN ARGENTINA
PROGRESSO,ARGENTINA:THE funeral of Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala took place in his home village in Argentina on Saturday three weeks after he was killed in a plane crash.
A public vigil was held in a gymnasium in Progreso, the modest village in the province of Santa Fe which Sala left as a teenager to forge a career in Europe.
Sala’s father, mother, sister and friends were seen arriving at the ceremony and dozens of local people filed in after them.
The 28-year-old died on January 21 just two days after completing a $19.3 million (€17.1 million) move to the Premier League club from French club Nantes.