Rome (AFP)
Juventus regained a foothold on the podium of the Italian Championship by easily disposing of the red lantern Crotone (3-0) Monday at the end of the 23rd day, thanks in particular to a new double from Cristiano Ronaldo.
This unprecedented victory at home allows the Bianconeri to move forward after two consecutive losses - a first for Andrea Pirlo as a coach - against Naples (0-1) in the league then FC Porto (1-2) this week in 8th first leg of the Champions League.
Facing the Calabrians without complexes, playing against thoroughly despite their last place, the Bianconeri had to wait until the end of the first period to find the fault, on two implacable heads of Cristiano Ronaldo.
At the reception of a cross from Alex Sandro for the first (38th) then Aaron Ramsey for the double (45 + 1st).
The Portuguese - ninth double of the season in all competitions - takes the lead in the scorers' standings with 18 goals the day after Romelu Lukaku's 17th goal in Inter Milan's clear victory over Milan (3-0).
In the second half, Weston McKennie (66th) increased the score for a Crotone team who had the merit of continuing to try their luck, but in vain.
With 45 points, Juve takes third place to Roma (44 pts), hung Sunday by Benevento (0-0).
It is eight points behind the leader Inter Milan (53 pts), but still has a game behind against Napoli.
Against Crotone, who had achieved in the first leg his feat of his season by hooking the nine-time defending champion (1-1), Pirlo could be satisfied to have avoided any false note despite his reduced workforce.
No less than eight potential holders were indeed missing from the kickoff call, between the injured (Dybala, Cuadrado, Chiellini, Bonucci, Arthur), a player undermined by an intestinal virus (Morata, entered in the second period), one suspended (Rabiot) and another left to rest by choice of the coach (Szczesny replaced in the goal by Buffon).
At 3-0, Pirlo also took the opportunity to offer their first minutes in Serie A to some of the young people called to strengthen the group, Nicolo Fagioli (20) and Alessandro Di Pardo (21).
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