Juventus player ratings vs Sassuolo: Cristiano Ronaldo ends drought with a brace
By John Vaccaro
It finally happened.
Juventus came back from the international break with one major story hanging over their head. Through 3 Serie A games Cristiano Ronaldo still had not scored. That changed against Sassuolo.
Things started slowly for Juve on matchday 4. Perhaps impacted by the fans protesting in the first half by not singing, Juve’s attack looked impotent in the first half, not registering a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. The big summer signing turned that around quickly in the second half.
In the 50th minute Leonardo Bonucci tried to bicycle kick a ball sent in by Paulo Dybala from a corner. It didn’t quite work, but a Sassuolo defender tried to head that ball back to his keeper and it hit the post. Ronaldo came crashing in and capitalized on that mistake, putting that ball in the back of the net for his first Juve goal.
He wasn’t done there. In the 65th minute Emre Can played Ronaldo in on the breakaway and Ronaldo slotted the ball perfectly past the keeper at the far post. The brace was the highlight of a strong Juventus performance. Sassuolo managed to get a goal back in the 91st minute, but it was too little too late as Juventus held on to win 2-1.
GK: Wojciech Szczesny 7/10
Szczesny’s performances continue to hold off future starter Mattia Perin. Szczesny wasn’t called into action often against Sassuolo, but he once again played well for Juve. He saved 4 of the 5 shots on target he faced and there wasn’t much he could do to keep the late goal out. His performance should keep him in the starting lineup Wednesday against Valencia.