Ronaldo’s penalty double edges Juventus closer to title

Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Juventus snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw against Atalanta to take a massive step towards a ninth straight Serie A title.

Lazio’s 2-1 loss to Sassuolo earlier in the day gave Atalanta, on an 11-match winning streak heading into the game, the chance to move second and cut the gap to Juve to six points.

But despite trailing twice and being outplayed for long periods, Maurizio Sarri’s Juventus moved eight points clear at the top with six matches remaining as Ronaldo took his tally to 28 league goals this season.

“We can’t make calculations yet, we can’t take our foot off the gas until we are mathematically champions,” said Juve captain Leonardo Bonucci.

It was an ultimately frustrating outing for Atalanta who stay third, nine points off the pace, after conceding both spotkicks for handball.

“What are we meant to do, cut our arms off? You can at most put your arms in front of your body,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini told DAZN.

“The interpretation of the rule is not the same here as elsewhere. Other countries don’t give penalties like that. These are the rules here.”

Juve started brightly but it did not take long for the in-form visitors to take control and start to dominate possession.

Josip Ilicic fired the first real chance of the game wide, but Atalanta grabbed the lead in the 16th minute, scoring for the 25th consecutive match in all competitions.

Papu Gomez was the creator, wriggling free in midfield before exchanging passes with Duvan Zapata before sliding the ball back for the Colombian to drill home his 15th league goal of the campaign.

Paulo Dybala almost levelled for the hosts against the run of play, but his volley was deflected wide.

The reigning champions were gifted a route back into the game nine minutes after half-time as Marten de Roon was penalised for handling Dybala’s cross. Ronaldo stepped up to score his 27th Serie A goal this term, drawing him within two of Lazio’s Ciro Immobile at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Ronaldo almost put Juve in front with 10 minutes to play, but visiting goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini made an excellent save to keep out the Portuguese star’s half-volley.

Rsulan Malinovskiy put Atalanta back into the lead in the 81st minute, as Luis Muriel picked out his fellow sub to hammer a fierce shot past Wojciech Szczesny.

But Atalanta shot themselves in the foot again in the 90th minute, as Ronaldo fired in his second penalty after Muriel was penalised for handball.