Juventus: 3 takeaways from a 3-1 win over Cagliari
Juventus bounced back from their Champions League exit, dominating the first half en route to a 3-1 win over Cagliari. Cristiano Ronaldo played the hero after being villanized for his poor second leg vs. Porto, scoring a perfect hat trick in just 32 minutes of action, emphatically scoring his first, second, and third at the Sardegna Arena.
Let’s take a look at three takeaways from Juve’s victory in Serie A. Every game is vital in this difficult title race.
Cristiano Ronaldo reminds everyone of his influence
With 23 goals in Serie A this season, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the best player in the league, though Inter’s Romelu Lukaku has honestly built a compelling countercase.
Ronaldo received heavy criticism after a shocking Champions League elimination, and, in all honesty, he did not play well in either leg. But he has been so incredible throughout the 2020-2021 season, and anyone who has paid attention will tell you that Ronaldo is having his best season in a Black and White kit.
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He was a man on a mission on Sunday, scoring right from the get-go. And really, he could have scored a handful instead of “just” a hatful.
No matter. A hat trick in Serie A is a rare feat, and it is one Ronaldo will relish. But he won’t celebrate long, since there is still business left. He knows how much the Scudetto means and will put it all on the line again next weekend against Benevento.
Juventus fail to play two complete halves
For as dominant as Juventus was in the first half behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick, the Bianconeri were quite flat in the second half. It was a reversal of their last three performances.
Against Spezia, Lazio, and Porto, Juve struggled for the first half but then turned it around later in the game to score three goals. In this game, they scored thrice in the first half and almost looked like they’d inexplicably blow the game in the second.
Thankfully, Juve held on, but they were surprisingly unconvincing in Sardinia throughout the second half. They were meek in the attack, failed to keep possession, and had a couple of shaky moments defensively.
Andrea Pirlo has done a great job of getting his team to respond to adversity, but there are still some wrinkles to iron out with this growing squad.
Federico Chiesa brilliant again
Federico Chiesa has been right there with Cristiano Ronaldo as Juventus’ best player in the year 2021, turning up his performances to a different level. It seems like his big day against Theo Hernandez and Milan at the San Siro has upped his confidence, and even in games in which Juve struggle, Chiesa is a bright spot.
Next. Juventus Player Ratings at Cagliari. dark
On Sunday at the Sardegna Arena, Chiesa was the second star of the show to Ronaldo, and he nearly got a goal of his own. As it stands, he assisted Ronaldo once and, per WhoScored.com, made four key passes for the Bianconeri.
Chiesa is already a top-tier Serie A player, and with a couple of more displays like this one, he could push for another Player of the Month award from us.