Player ratings as Bianconeri continues to push for Serie A title

Juventus beat AS Roma 2-0 in Turin on Saturday afternoon, as Andrea Pirlo’s men closed the gap on Inter to five points at the top of Serie A.

I Bianconeri broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, when Cristiano Ronaldo hit a magnificent effort in the far corner to give the hosts the advantage against the run of the game.

The Portuguese superstar nearly doubled Juve’s lead soon after, but his shot from inside the box deflected onto the crossbar and away from danger. The hosts got their second of the game in the second half, when Roger Ibanez turned Dejan Kulusevski’s cross into his own net in the 70th minute.

Juventus finished the game professionally in the final 20 minutes to earn all three points and move I Giallorossi to third place in the table.

Let’s take a look at the scores of players from thrilling 90 minutes in Turin.

Wojciech Szczęsny (GK) – 7/10 – Had very few shots to save in the first half, despite Roma dominating. Handled the air threat well, effectively controlling his box.

Danilo (RB) – 8/10 – Targeted by Roma in this wing. Took up the task perfectly in the first half, rarely leaving Spinazzola’s crosses beyond him. Disciplined.

Leonardo Bonucci (CB) – 8/10 – Forced into a lot of penalty benches to defend, clear countless crosses and block runners trying to break into the low defensive line.

Giorgio Chiellini (CB) – 8/10 – Won a few vital headers against Mayoral and Dzeko, as Roma looked to whip poisonous crosses.

Alex Sandro (LB) – 8/10 – Offered two vital interceptions in the first exchanges to deny some threatening Roma movements. Skinned Cristante alive to put Juve’s first goal in motion.

Federico Chiesa (RM) – 7/10 – Did a good job canceling Spinazzola, harassing and placing his national compatriot. Did not make much progress in the future.

Arthur Melo (CM) – 7/10 – Clean and tidy on the ball, relieving pressure and slowing Roma down as they set the pace of the game. Reserved to arrest Mkhitaryan on the charge.

Adrien Rabiot (CM) – 6/10 – The least notable of the four midfielders but pushed the odd toe into a tackle. The game overtook him again.

Weston McKennie (LM) – 6/10 – Floated around the left flank, spotting pockets of space to try and impact play. Had trouble gaining possession and was substituted in the second half.

Cristiano Ronaldo (ST) – 8/10 – What a finish! Hit a fatal blow in the corner of the net from a stationary position. Little power, but total precision. Shook the crossbar with a deflected strike. The difference.

Alvaro Morata (ST) – 7/10 – On hand to hold the ball inside the box and leave it to his partner, who threw the ball. Pulled over the bar on his weaker left foot in the second half. Replaced.

Juan Cuadrado (RM) – 7/10

Dejan Kulusevski (ST) – 7/10

Federico Bernardeschi (LM) – 6/10

Matthijs de Ligt (CB) – 7/10

Merih Demiral (CB) – N / A

Pau Lopez (GK) – 6/10 – Unable to cross his goal to save Ronaldo’s strike in the first half. Should probably question his positioning when the shot was hit. No luck with the second.

Gianluca Mancini (CB) – 8/10 – Impossible to direct the ball towards the goal just under the crossbar. Reserved to prevent Juve from intentionally countering. Defended so high on the pitch, winning the ball at halftime and again and again. A solid performance.

Roger Ibanez (CB) – 5/10 – Fought well against Ronaldo and Morata, winning smart free kicks when pushed around tight corners. Too bad to turn a cross into his own net under pressure from Ronaldo, who killed the game.

Marash Kumbulla (CB) – 7/10 – Maybe he stopped Ronaldo from catching a second by deflecting his shot off the crossbar. Decent everywhere.

Rick Karsdorp (RWB) – 7/10 – Fought hard against Sandro and McKennie, and drove the line up and down like a locomotive.

Gonzalo Villar (CM) – 7/10 – Such a chic and calm operator in the midfield. Immunity to the press. Unable to divide Juve’s tight defense and replaced in the second half.

Jordan Veretout (CM) – 6/10 – Advancing with the ball and also changing their own half, breaking Juve’s counterattacks.

Leonardo Spinazzola (LWB) – 7/10 – So, so dangerous flying on that left flank. Constantly on the ball, but met his match at Danilo, who was up to the task.

Bryan Cristante (RW) – 6/10 – Played just off Mayoral, drifting in and behind the Spaniard. Beaten too easily by Sandro in the buildup of Ronaldo’s first match. Almost level with a great volley, but shot right off.

Borja Mayoral (ST) – 6/10 – Rarely found the opportunity to test Szczesny, diving deep to connect with midfield. Not an easy afternoon for the Spaniard.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (LW) – 7/10 – Impossible to penetrate the defense of Juve as he would have hoped in the first half. Came in the second half, showing an explosive run and dynamism on the ball, breaking lines with ease.

Edin Dzeko (ST) – 5/10

Amadou Diawara (CM) – 5/10

Carles Perez (RW) – 6/10

Bruno Peres (RWB) – 6/10