Sampdoria 1-2 Juve: Ronaldo helps Bianconeri edge past rivals with insane header

Juventus battled to victory in Genoa as Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the winner against Sampdoria with a trademark sublime header.

Match Report

Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala put Juventus back on top of Serie A as records fell in a 2-1 victory at Sampdoria.

Brazilian defender Alex Sandro had a hand in both goals for Juventus, a thumping header from Ronaldo after a spectacular leap and a brilliant volley by Dybala, with the Turin giants pulling three points clear of Inter.

Inter, who face Genoa on Saturday, can reclaim first place going into the mid-season break, but this was a night to savour for Juventus.

Gianluigi Buffon could not keep a clean sheet, but the veteran goalkeeper matched Paolo Maldini's all-time record of 647 Serie A appearances, and a 479th outing in the division for Juve meant he broke Alessandro Del Piero's top-flight mark for the Bianconeri.

In Juve's final league game before a near three-week interval, Maurizio Sarri secured his 100th Serie A victory as a coach in what was just his 169th match. No coach has reached that mark in as few games in Italy's top flight so far this century.

Standings

Match Events

3' NO PENALTY! Murru tackled down in penalty area

Demiral is caught in possession by Murru in his own half and sprints back before bundling the left-back over inside the penalty area, but the referee shakes his head! The Sampdoria players are furious!

19' GOAL! Sampdoria 0-1 Juventus (Dybala)

And just like that, Juventus are ahead! They've hardly created anything so far, but Dybala connects sweetly with a switch of play from Alex Sandro and steers a left-footed volley from the right side of the box into the bottom-left corner! 

35' GOAL! Sampdoria 1-1 Juventus (Caprari)

Ramirez tries to jink his way into the box from the right and passes it into the middle. It goes slightly astray but breaks for Caprari on the left side of the area and the striker thumps home a first-time finish that leaves Buffon with no chance! 

41' WHAT A CHANCE missed by Dybala!

Ronaldo seems to be playing the role of provider today as he works himself half a yard on the left before curling in a teasing cross towards the bottom-right corner that neither Higuain or Dybala can make contact with and it bounces just past the post!

45' GOAL! Sampdoria 1-2 Juventus (Ronaldo)

Juventus work the ball around well, stretching Sampdoria and giving Alex Sandro the space to produce a sumptuous cross to the back post, where Ronaldo towers over his marker to head right into the top-left corner past Audero!

53' Strong save from Buffon!

Jankto catches a half-volley firmly after a corner is half-cleared and thumps it through a crowded box, but Buffon reads the flight of the ball and takes it in well.

56' MISS! What a miss by Matuidi!

Dybala fires in an outstanding cross that Matuidi meets unmarked in the box, with Ronaldo also free behind him. However, the ball comes off the midfielder's shoulder and stays in play for a moment before bouncing behind for a goal kick!

89' OFFSIDE! Ronaldo scores but goal is disallowed

Ramsey finds Ronaldo in behind with a lovely ball over the top and the forward takes a touch to get it past the onrushing Audero before rolling into an empty net, but he's penalised for offside!

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