Juve back joint top, Inter held

CRISTIANO RONALDO scored twice as Juventus beat Udinese 3-1 to join Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A table yesterday after Antonio Conte’s side were held 1-1 at Fiorentina.

Dusan Vlahovic snatched a point for Fiorentina two minutes into injury time to frustrate Inter Milan who had led following Borja Valero’s opener after eight minutes in Tuscany.

Both Juventus and Inter Milan have 39 points from 16 games, with Antonio Conte’s side ahead on goal difference.

Ronaldo struck twice in the first half to make it five goals in four games as the reigning champions got back winning after last weekend’s first defeat of the season to Lazio.

“That's how we have to play, with confidence,” said Ronaldo.

“It is the first time after a Champions League match that we managed to attack the game well,” said Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri.

“We played very well for 60 minutes.”

In Florence, Valero scored off a Marcelo Brozovic cross against his former club. But the visitors failed to kill off the game.

It condemned Inter to their second consecutive stalemate after Roma last weekend, and follows their Champions League exit to Barcelona on Tuesday.

“It’s the third game where we did not get what we deserved,” said Conte.

“We weren’t good at taking our many chances. Maybe we’re paying for fatigue. We’ve had seven games in 21 days, with Lautaro and Lukaku playing constantly.”

The pressure remains on coach

Vincenzo Montella with Fiorentina’s last win on Oct 30, and their next game against in-form Roma.

Roma moved up to fourth and into the Champions League places after three second-half goals sealed a 3-1 win over rock bottom SPAL. Roma are one point behind third-placed city rivals Lazio.

Napoli drop to eighth – 11 points off the top four – after last season’s runners-up lost 2-1 to Parma on Saturday.

Atalanta are sixth after falling 2-1 at Bologna just days after the Champions League newcomers sealed their place in the competition's last 16.

AC Milan were held to a goalless draw against Sassuolo at the San Siro and sit 10th with Sassuolo three places and five points below.

Hellas Verona battled back from three goals down hold Torino 33. –

AFP