Juventus miss Ronaldo in first league loss to Atalanta since 2001

MILAN: Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus missed Cristiano Ronaldo’s “killer instinct” as the Italian champions fell to their first league defeat in two decades to Atalanta.

Ruslan Malinovskyi struck late as Atalanta won 1-0 to move third in Serie A with the Portugal forward injured.

Atalanta are two points behind second-placed AC Milan who beat Genoa 2-1 to claim their first win at the San Siro in over two months.

Juventus were playing without injured Ronaldo, the top scorer in Serie A with 25 goals this campaign, in the match between the Champions League rivals in Bergamo.

“We knew it would be tough against Atalanta,” said Juventus coach Pirlo.

“Ronaldo is our finisher, he adapts to these matches, because he’s a champion.

“He’s a penalty area killer. Today we had our chances, we didn’t use them and we were punished by an episode.”

Juventus have failed to win any matches this season without 36-year-old Ronaldo with three draws and a loss.

Their nine-year reign as champions looks set to end, and they are now facing a battle for a Champions League place.

“It’s a game that counts,” said Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini whose side’s last Serie A win over the Turin giants was in February 2001.

“Winning today means we can beat Juve and they know they can also lose against us.

“I didn’t find a Juve in difficulty, they were a very strong team.”

In Milan, Gianluca Scamacca’s 68th-minute own goal put Milan eight points behind city rivals Inter and kept the seven-time European champions on course for a return to Champions League football next season.