10 February 2019
Goals from Sami Khedira, Cristiano Ronaldo and Emre Can saw the Bianconeri extend their lead at the top of the Serie A table to 11 points after a dominant display in Reggio Emilia.
SUPER SAMI
The opening minutes of the game started off very sprightly, with Sassuolo immediately testing Juventus’ backline. Djuricic was sent to chase down the ball in the box, and it resulted in Szczesny making a crucial interception in a one-on-one challenge.
The Polish goalkeeper was then called into action in the 15th minute, when Manuel Locatelli struck a powerful ball on the edge of the box, but Szczesny did well to make the save from the top corner.
Juventus took the lead after 23 minutes on the clock when Sami Khedira converted the ball across the line from close range, after Consigli’s initially parried shot from Cristiano Ronaldo’s effort fell into his path.
NEARLY AT THE DOUBLE
As the half went on, both Juventus and Sassuolo pushed their way up and down the field. Ronaldo tried to feed a ball to Mario Mandzukic, but he couldn’t get onto the end of it, while Domenico Berardi fired an attempt at goal that sailed high above Szczesny’s posts.
The Bianconeri started to pile on the pressure in stoppage time, and came agonisingly close to doubling the lead. Federico Bernardeschi started the attack and forced Consigli to make a save. Khedira then made his second attempt at goal with a header, but it sailed inches wide of goal.
CHANCES AT BOTH ENDS
After the break, Juventus came out with guns blazing and it was Daniele Rugani who nearly added the second goal with a header that went wide of goal.
The Bianconeri burst into celebration in the 52nd minute, when Ronaldo found the back of the net after latching onto a Bernardesch ball and rounding Consigli. However, the linesman's flag was raised and the goal didn’t stand.
Moments later, Sassuolo went on a dangerous counter attack that saw Szczesny rush off his line and attempt to clear the ball. However, it fell to the feet of Berardi who fired towards an open net but it sailed wide.
The game started to become more stretched and open, and another good chance fell to the visitors when Mandzukic’s knockdown across goal evaded the onrushing Khedira and Bernardeschi.
SIIIIIIIII!
Juventus’ hard work in front of goal paid off when the scoreline turned 2-0 courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo header. The Portuguese striker turned the ball into the back of the net from an excellently delivered Miralem Pjanic cross.
The game was then wrapped up when Emre Can was introduced onto the field in place of Blaise Matuidi. The midfielder made it 3-0 with his first touch of the game, by firing home from a tight angle off a Ronaldo assist, which saw him combine well with Dybala.
