Juventus 2-0 AS Roma: 5 hits and flops as Cristiano Ronaldo inspires champions beyond the Giallorossi | Serie A 2020-21

Cristiano Ronaldo was on target again as holders march past Roma
Cristiano Ronaldo was on target again as holders march past Roma

Juventus moved above AS Roma on the Serie A table after a commanding 2-0 win at the Allianz Stadium.

Cristiano Ronaldo was on target for the holders again while an own goal from Roger Ibañez sealed the win for Juventus, who're now up to third, just five points off leaders Inter Milan.

Even though the Giallorossi held more possession (52%-48%) and attempted more shots on goal (14-3), they lacked the precision to carve out many good opportunities to score.

Credit to former Roma star Wojciech Szczesny too, as the Polish custodian made some good saves and shut out his old colleagues.

La Magica lost for the second time in four league games while Juventus continued their march towards the top.

Here are the hits and flops from the match:

Hit: Weston McKennie (Juventus)

McKennie was impressive tonight
McKennie was impressive tonight

Even though he's yet to fully convince in Juventus colors, McKennie turned in another solid performance tonight, which suggests he's firmly settling into the side.

The 22-year-old American fireball ran rings around the visitors with his electric pace and slick passes, releasing the likes of Ronaldo and Morata with some excellent balls forward.

His ability to find pockets of space was eye-catching and even though he didn't take a crack at goal himself, he proved to be a thorn in Roma's flesh with his all-round ability.

This still isn't the starlet's best, but if he adds consistency to his game, and delivers peaches like this, McKennie could truly liberate himself.

Flop: Bryan Cristante (AS Roma)

Cristante was kept under wraps by the hosts
Cristante was kept under wraps by the hosts

In a season where the 25-year-old is coming of age despite limited appearances, tonight was tough game for him.

Playing just off striker Borja Mayoral, he tried to drift inside and play off the Spaniard, but Juve's experienced backline didn't give him enough space to work into.

Also, Cristante was the culprit in the build up to Ronaldo's opening goal as the former Atalanta man was beaten way too easily on the ball by Alex Sandro, who then initiated the attack.

He had a good chance to redeem himself late on when he was presented with an excellent opportunity to pull one back for the visitors, but Cristante blazed his effort wide instead.

Hit: Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

Chiellini was resolute in the defense
Chiellini was resolute in the defense

The veteran centre-back turned back the calendar with a colossal performance in defence, showing he still has it in his tank to deliver in the big games.

During the early exchanges, when Roma threatened to break forward many times, Chiellini stood tall, making some crucial blocks and braving some piece of skills too.

He made six clearances in the match, at least twice more than anyone tonight, won four aerial duels, also second to none, and made 98 touches on the ball, another game-high.

The old Italian warhorse may not start regularly as he once did, but his importance to the side cannot be denied. This match was another exhibition of the same.

Flop: Borja Mayoral (AS Roma)

Mayoral went missing tonight
Mayoral went missing tonight

Mayoral's amazing run of late came to a juddering halt against Juventus, who expertly negated the in-form striker, never even allowing him sight of the goal, let alone score one.

With three goals and an assist from the last two games before tonight, the Spaniard unsurprisingly led the line ahead of Edin Dzeko, but came a cropper.

It's not all his fault, though, as Roma struggled to control the midfield, forcing the former Real Madrid forward to drop deep instead.

On other occasions, Juve's experienced centre-back duo of Bonucci and Chiellini, suffocated him for space, while saw two of his efforts blocked by Sandro and Rabiot.

A very frustrating evening for Mayoral, who'll be looking to score a goal or two in the next game against Udinese to regain his confidence.

Hit: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)

Ronaldo produced another deadly strike tonight, his 16th overall in the league this season!
Ronaldo produced another deadly strike tonight, his 16th overall in the league this season!

Ronaldo turned 36 just over a day before this game, and tonight, he celebrated the same with a fantastic goal.

The peerless Juventus ace dragged a fiery low-drive beyond Pau Lopez just 13 minutes into the match, setting his side on their way towards another important win.

Unsatisfied with one goal, he kept knocking on Roma's door with relentless pressing, even rattling the crossbar and forcing Lopez into a diving save, during the first half.

His impact may have waned slightly after the interval, but the Portuguese was still threatening on the break and made some good runs from the flanks.

What's really astonishing is, even in the twilight of his career, Ronaldo continues to show exceptional desire, consistency, and professionalism.

Drink it all in while it lasts - we'll not see a player like him again.

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