Ah, never change, Cristiano
Cristiano Ronaldo’s wait for a first Juventus goal will go on into a third game.
Unable to get on the scoresheet on his debut away at Chievo last week, the Portugal captain drew another blank in his first home game for the Italian champions.
Miralem Pjanic had given Juve a first-half lead against Lazio on Saturday with a sweetly struck half-volley.
Starved of decent opportunities in the first 45, Ronaldo went close in the second, forcing a decent save from Thomas Strakosha in the Lazio goal.
What a strike and what a save! @Cristiano tests #Strakosha and the @OfficialSSLazio keeper is equal to it. Can #CR7 find the net? #PURESPORT pic.twitter.com/GfyEitSZwi
— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) August 25, 2018
The former Manchester United winger looked certain to score minutes later when a cross from the Juve right looked to have provided him with a tap-in inside the Lazio six-yard box. However, the slightest of touches from Strakosha was enough for him to miscue.
The ball flicked up off Ronaldo’s left heel, falling kindly for Mario Mandzukic to volley home Juve’s second of the game.
As many pointed out in the seconds that followed the goal, the 33-year-old couldn’t hide his disappointment at not being able to finish the goal off himself, raising his arms out in exasperation as the ball hit the back of the net.
Despite this, he did eventually join in the celebrations and Juve were able to see out the final minutes to keep up their 100% start to the new Serie A season.
It bounces off @Cristiano's heel, but that is not the sort of chance that @MarioMandzukic9 lets past him. It's 2-0 @juventusfcen and @OfficialSSLazio have a mountain to climb. Look at #CR7's face! #PURESPORT pic.twitter.com/OEaTfMMqUH
— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) August 25, 2018
Ronaldo’s move to Turin brought to a close a nine-year spell at Real, in which he helped them to four Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns. He also established himself as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and won four Ballon d’Ors.
