Ronaldo keeps Juve flying
MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Juventus bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat by Manchester United with a 2-0 win over 10-man AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday, as Gonzalo Higuain missed a penalty before being sent off for the hosts.
Mario Mandzukic headed in the opener in the eighth minute at the San Siro with Ronaldo adding a second on 81 minutes as Juventus maintained their six-point cushion ahead of the international break.
It got the defending seven-time Serie A champions back on track after suffering their first defeat of the season by United following two late goals despite Ronaldo’s stunning volley.
“Winning tonight was the only way to put aside what happened in the final five minutes of the Champions League game,” said Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri.
“It was important to win without conceding a goal and to regain the six-point advantage over Napoli who are having an excellent championship.”
A third loss of the campaign, however, saw AC Milan drop out of the Champions League places behind Lazio who moved back into fourth despite a 1-1 draw at Sassuolo.
Inter Milan’s seven-match winning streak ended with a 4-1 defeat at Atalanta, with Luciano Spalletti’s side losing second place to Napoli who came from behind to beat Genoa 2-1 on Saturday.
Juventus have 34 points from 12 games — six ahead of Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli with Inter a further three behind.
“I’m very happy, especially for the team, because playing away to Milan is always very difficult,” said Ronaldo.
“It was important to win, because Napoli beat Genoa last night and we had to keep our distance.”
Higuain was sent off after 83 minutes, two minutes after Ronaldo’s goal.
Higuain saw red after screaming at referee Paolo Mazzoleni in protest at a yellow card for a foul on Medhi Benatia.
“I know that we are an example for all children, for those who play football, for the people watching, but we are not robots, and we carry things within us,” Higuain said.
“We are human, we feel emotions. I think sometimes the referees should understand the situation.”