CR7 puts Juve on top

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Juventus bounced back from their first defeat of the season to beat Udinese 3-1 and move top of Serie A on Sunday.

Ronaldo struck twice in the first half to make it five goals in four games as champions Juve move one point ahead of leaders Inter Milan ahead of their trip to off-form Fiorentina later on Sunday.

“That’s how we have to play, with confidence. Let’s see what happens now,” said Ronaldo.

Maurizio Sarri’s side had taken just one point from their last two league games but Portuguese star Ronaldo finished off a Paulo Dybala rebound after nine minutes at the Allianz Stadium, and burst through to finish off a Gonzalo Higuain cross on 36 minutes.

Leonardo Bonucci sealed the three points just before the break when he headed in from close range.

Ignacio Pussetto pulled a goal back for 17th-placed Udinese four minutes into injury time.

Juventus play their final Serie A game before the winter break at Sampdoria on Wednesday, before a rematch against Lazio in the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia next weekend.

“It is the first time after a Champions League match that we managed to attack the game well,” said Sarri. “We played very well for 60 minutes.”

No party for Milan’s 120th

Meanwhile, AC Milan were held to a goalless draw against Sassuolo at the San Siro as they marked their 120th anniversary in tepid style.

Theo Hernandez had a goal ruled out following a Franck Kessie handball in the buildup, with Rafael Leao hitting the crossbar and the post. Stefano Pioli’s side failed to make it three wins in a row and sit 10th with Sassuolo four places and five points below.