Juve brush aside Frosinone before Atletico face-off
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, f i rst - l eg t i e 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,” added Allegri.
Ronaldo set up Dybala to rifle in with his left foot after just six minutes in Turin as the Argentina forward, who has been overshadowed since the arrival of the former
Real Madrid player, scored his first league goal since November 3. Ten minutes later Bonucci broke through after a desperate goalmouth scramble.
Ronaldo slotted in his 19th Serie A goal and 21st in all competitions on 62 minutes with Rodrigo Bentancur crossing for Mandzukic who provided the assist for the Portuguese striker.
FERGUSON TO RETURN
MANCHESTER: Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will return to the dugout for a charity match to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the team’s treble-winning season, the Premier League club announced on Saturday.
The 77-year-old Scot will take charge of a legends side against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on May 26.
“I’m really looking forward to what will be a special day at Old Trafford,” Ferguson told the club website.