Cristiano Ronaldo scored his third brace in five games as champions Juventus return to winning ways on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Cagliari in Turin.
Andrea Pirlo’s side currently sits at fourth spot in the table and are two point behind leaders Sassuolo who beat Hellas Verona 2-0 on Sunday.
Juventus had been held 1-1 at Lazio last time out — one of four stalemates this season for the nine-time reigning champions — but quickly took charge against the Sardinians.
“We needed a match like this,” said Pirlo. “There were excellent performances, even from those returning from national teams.
“A lot of them arrived two days ago and did their first training yesterday and were also tired from the trip.
“Tonight they also had fun, performances like this allow the players to gain confidence.”
Federico Bernardeschi had an early goal ruled out for offside before Ronaldo struck twice in a four-minute spell before the break.
The Portuguese striker blasted in an Alvaro Morata cross on 38 minutes, before latching onto a Merih Demiral header from a corner for the second from close range minutes later.
Ronaldo, 35, has come back strong after his coronavirus layoff, scoring eight goals in five games to join Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the top of the Serie A scorers’ chart.
Ragnar Klavan had a goal disallowed for Cagliari midway through the second half.
But it was Juventus who threatened a third with Demiral, Morata, Bernardeschi and Paulo Dybala having shots at goal.
Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt played the entire game in his first match since shoulder surgery in August, a boost for Pirlo’s side without injured duo Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini before Tuesday’s Champions League game against Hungarian side Ferencvaros.
lukaku lights up
Romelu Lukaku inspired a remarkable second-half comeback as Inter recovered from 2-0 down to defeat Torino 4-2 and claim their first win for almost a month.
Marco Giampaolo’s Torino came into the match with a solitary Serie A win to their name this season but belied that meagre return as the effervescent Simone Zaza crowned an enterprising first-half display with the opening goal.
A penalty from former Inter man Cristian Ansaldi made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute, although Alexis Sanchez swiftly reduced the arrears.
Sanchez turned provider for Lukaku to level in the 67th minute and the Belgium star kept his cool from the spot six minutes from the end of normal time, before Lautaro Martinez came off the bench to make it four shots on target and four goals for Inter in a crazy second half.