Ronaldo’s penalties salvage 2-2 draw for Juventus against Atalanta

Cristiano Ronaldo transformed two penalties, each awarded for handballs and the second within the final minute, as Serie A frontrunner Juventus twice hit again to attract 2-2 with Atalanta to maneuver nearer to a ninth successive Serie A title on Saturday. The Portuguese ahead took his league tally to 28 objectives this season as Juventus went eight factors away from second-placed Lazio with six matches to play. Atalanta are an additional level again in third after being denied a tenth successive league win.

Both handballs have been clearly unintentional however, beneath the present guidelines, referee Piero Giacomelli had no choice however to award the penalties.

It was tough justice on Atalanta. The workforce, which leads Serie A in scoring, would have climbed into second place and minimize the hole between themselves and Juventus to 6 factors if they’d gained.

Juventus, humbled 4-2 at AC Milan on Tuesday, dropped Miralem Pjanic however have been rapidly pressured onto the again foot by a usually audacious Atalanta aspect.

Duvan Zapata put the guests forward within the 16th minute as an intricate alternate of passes with Alejandro Gomez opened up the Juventus defence earlier than the Colombian slotted his shot previous Wojciech Szczesny.

The guests continued to pen Juventus into their half, having fun with 58% possession and 5 pictures to the house workforce’s one earlier than halftime, solely to fall foul of the handball rule 10 minutes after the break.

Paulo Dybala fired a cross in opposition to Marten de Roon’s elbow and, though it was at point-blank vary and the Dutchman’s arm was near his chest, the referee instantly pointed to the penalty spot.

Ronaldo smashed residence the spot kick, scoring for the sixth sport in a row.

The sport opened up, with Atalanta regaining the lead within the 81st minute when Luis Muriel despatched a cross throughout the face of the penalty space to Ruslan Malinovskyi who took it in his stride earlier than firing a right-foot shot previous Szczesny.

But lightning struck a second time for Atalanta when Gonzalo Higuain bought his foot to a nook and deflected the ball onto Muriel’s hand.

The Colombian didn’t have time to get his hand out of the way in which however, because it was outstretched, the penalty needed to be given and Ronaldo transformed within the 90th minute.