Juve set to maintain record start against Roma
Cristiano Ronaldo was plastered all over the front pages of Italy’s sports papers last weekend as the Portuguese talisman continued to take centre stage for Juventus as the side reached the latest landmark in a recordsmashing start to the season.
Gaining momentum since his high-profile move from Real Madrid in the closeseason, the forward’s penalty that sealed a 1-0 win for the Italian champions over local rivals Torino was also his new club’s 5 000th Serie A goal.
The victory maintained their eight-point gap over second-placed Napoli and Massimiliano Allegri’s side should make it to Christmas undefeated if they see off the challenge of struggling AS Roma today.
The Turin derby victory was the latest evidence that this season’s Juventus are not just a level above their rivals in
Valencia defender Jeison Murillo is set to sign a six-month loan deal with La Liga champions Barcelona, Spanish media reported.
Spain’s AS newspaper said that Barca will pay Valencia 2 million euros ($2.29 million) and will reserve the right to sign Murillo permanently for 25 million euros when the loan deal expires in June.
Barca’s defence has been left short due to France centreback Samuel Umtiti needing treatment on his knee and Thomas Vermaelen, whose Nou Camp career has been blighted by injury, being ruled out for at least a month with a calf problem.
Murillo, 26, moved from Colombia this era, but on course to being considered one of the greatest Italian sides of all time.
Juve have enjoyed domestic dominance for an extended period, winning seven league titles in a row and four consecutive Coppa Italia trophies, yet Ronaldo’s arrival has helped them set a ferocious pace that has never been witnessed before.
The Turin side have made the best ever start to a Serie A season with 15 wins and a draw in 16 games, joining Manchester City (2017-18), Barcelona (2012-13) and Tottenham (1960-61) with the best openings to a campaign in Europe’s top-five leagues.
In Juventus’ last five league games, they have traveled to AC Milan, Fiorentina and Torino, and hosted Inter and SPAL, winning all five matches without conceding a goal with a couple of Champions League group games added to the mix.
Barca set to sign Murillo from Valencia
to Italy aged 18 to play for Udinese, later joining Spain’s Granada before moving to Inter Milan in 2015.
He joined Valencia on loan in 2017, making a permanent move in August for a reported 12 million euros, but has made only three appearances in all competitions this season.
The defender has been capped 27 times for Colombia, but was not selected for the 2018 World
Cup.