RON LEFT TO ‘COOL OFF’ AS JUVE FACE ATALANTA

Milan, Nov. 22: Cristiano Ronaldo is ‘99 percent’ certain to miss this weekend’s Serie A trip to Atalanta after his four-goal spree for Portugal in Euro 2020 qualifying, coach Maurizio Sarri confirmed on Friday. Juventus visit fifth-placed Atalanta on Saturday looking to retain top spot in Serie A ahead of Inter Milan before hosting Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next week. “The problem is on Tuesday Cristiano returned and said that it was good for the first game with Portugal but less in the second,” said Sarri.

“We have developed a programme for him and now, the goal is the match of Tuesday against Atletico Madrid,” said Sarri adding: “for Atalanta, 99 percent he will not be available.”

Ronaldo had been substituted in Juventus’s last two games with Sarri saying that the 34-year-old had a “little knee problem”.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was furious after being hauled off before the hour in their last game against AC Milan. “We talked on Tuesday, and at certain times you have to left players cool down,” said Sarri.

“There is no need for explanations. I’ve coached since the 90s and reactions to substitutions were the same even in amateurs and sometimes much worse.”

Sarri’s side are just one point ahead of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan after 12 matches, with Lazio and Cagliari eight points adrift of the leaders in joint third.

Atalanta have gone three league games without a win, and are two points off the final Champions League berths, before next week’s trip to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Inter will be looking to make it a perfect seven league games on the road this season as they travel to Torino, before their European trip to Slavia Prague.