Juventus galloped towards a seventh straight Serie A title with a 3-0 win over Sampdoria on Sunday (Apr 15), pulling six points clear of Napoli whose dwindling championship ambitions were dented by a goalless draw at AC Milan. AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma frustrates Napoli. (AFP/MIGUEL MEDINA) The title could be tied up by next Sunday when Juventus and Napoli go head-to-head in a top of the table clash in Turin. Juventus would have to win on Wednesday at Crotone and Napoli lose at home against Udinese, while the champions would also have to win next Sunday's game for the title to be decided. "Napoli are having a sensational campaign, they are still right up there and I think the next two games could be almost decisive for the Scudetto," said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri. "We are absolutely not favourites for the Scudetto. I want to thank everyone today, because it's not easy to win like this after such a draining experience as the Champions League." … [Read more...] about Juventus close in on seventh straight Serie A title
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Ronaldo rescues Real Madrid after sensational Juventus comeback
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale (centre) vies with Juventus' Medhi Benatia (left) and Juventus' goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match. (CURTO DE LA TORRE/AFP) Real had looked certain to make the last four following last week's 3-0 first-leg victory in Turin, but Juve staged a sensational comeback in the return at the Santiago Bernabeu. Mario Mandzukic's two first-half headers kept the dream alive before Blaise Matuidi capitalised on a Keylor Navas error to pull the Italians level with half an hour left. But, just as a thrilling second leg looked to be heading for extra time, English referee Michael Oliver awarded Real a penalty in stoppage time. With the game in the 97th minute, Ronaldo made no mistake from 12 yards, ensuring a 3-1 defeat on the night but a 4-3 win on aggregate. Gianluigi Buffon, making his 125th and perhaps final Champions League appearance before retirement, was sent off for his protests. If it is to be the … [Read more...] about Ronaldo rescues Real Madrid after sensational Juventus comeback
Ronaldo magic fires Real past 10-man Juventus
Viet Nam News TURIN, Italy — Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in 10 successive Champions League games as he struck twice for holders Real Madrid in a 3-0 win at Juventus in Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg. Ronaldo grabbed the opening goal in Turin after just three minutes and added a second on the hour with a sensational overhead bicycle kick, taking him to 14 goals in this season’s competition. Juventus forward Paulo Dybala was sent off on 66 minutes before Ronaldo set up Marcelo to cap the rout and leave Real in complete control of the tie going into the second leg in Madrid on April 11. The 33-year-old Portugal star had shared the previous goalscoring record with former Manchester United team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy, who found the net in nine consecutive matches between 2002 and 2003. "You can say he’s one of the most beautiful players in the history of football," said Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. "It’s not easy to get … [Read more...] about Ronaldo magic fires Real past 10-man Juventus
Ronaldo’s magic fires Real Madrid past 10 man Juventus
TURIN, Italy: Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in 10 successive Champions League games as he struck twice for holders Real Madrid in a 3-0 win at Juventus in Tuesday's (Apr 3) quarter-final first leg. Real Madrid's Marcelo (right) celebrates with teammates Lucas Vazquez (centre) and Cristiano Ronaldo (left) after scoring a goal against Juventus during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match. (Alberto PIZZOLI/AFP) Ronaldo grabbed the opening goal in Turin after just three minutes and added a second on the hour with a sensational overhead bicycle kick, taking him to 14 goals in this season's competition. Juventus forward Paulo Dybala was sent off on 66 minutes before Ronaldo set up Marcelo to cap the rout and leave Real in complete control of the tie going into the second leg in Madrid on Apr 11. The 33-year-old Portugal star had shared the previous record with former Manchester United team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored in … [Read more...] about Ronaldo’s magic fires Real Madrid past 10 man Juventus
Juventus pull clear as Napoli’s title dreams hit
Leonardo Bonucci scored on his return to Juventus but could not stop the Italian champions' march towards a seventh straight title with a 3-1 win over AC Milan on Saturday (Mar 31). Napoli's Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik (R) fights for the ball with Sassuolo's defender Francesco Acerbi during the Italian Serie A football match Sassuolo vs Napoli at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia on Mar 31, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Tiziana Fabi) Paulo Dybala opened the scoring after eight minutes with Juan Cuadrado marking his comeback from injury with the second and Sami Khedira adding a third late on as Juventus moved four points clear of Napoli whose hopes were hit by a 1-1 draw at strugglers Sassuolo. Defender Bonucci, 30, left Turin last summer for Milan after falling out with coach Massimiliano Allegri and was jeered by the hostile crowd in the Allianz Statium. "I'm happy for Bonucci that he got a goal, but I'm even happier that Juventus won," said Allegri. "It was important to get back to … [Read more...] about Juventus pull clear as Napoli’s title dreams hit