Cristiano Ronaldo stole the show with a double while Dejan Kulusevski and Alvaro Morata also scored as Juventus thrashed Parma 4-0 in Serie A on Saturday.
Parma had the first big chance of the game with Juraj Kucka being played through at the back post but Gianluigi Buffon made a fine save to keep the scoreline intact. Minutes later, Juventus were ahead as Dejan Kulusevski slotted home an Alex Sandro cross against his former club halfway through the first half.
Cristiano Ronaldo made it 2-0 just three minutes later, rising the highest to nod home Alvaro Morata’s cross. The Portuguese talisman latched on to an Aaron Ramsey pass before hitting a powerful effort to put the game to bed early in the second period.
Soon after Kucka forced Buffon into another save while Matthijs de Ligt had a goal ruled out for Juventus before the hour-mark. The Bianconeri controlled the game well, hardly letting Parma a sight on their goal, before striker Alvaro Morata made it 4-0 late in the game, with a well-placed header from Federico Bernardeschi’s cross.
The result sees Juventus move within a point of leaders AC Milan in the Serie A standings, with the Rossoneri playing Sassuolo on Sunday. Here’s how we rated the performances of Andrea Pirlo’s men on the evening at the Ennio Tardini Stadium.
Gianluigi Buffon: 7.5/10
Buffon stats v Parma:
▪35 Touches
▪4 Saves
▪— 2 Punches
▪— 2 Diving saves
▪— 2 Saves inside the boxNot bad for 42 years old stopper. pic.twitter.com/SihBlHhBqa
— Max Statman (@eMaxStatman) December 19, 2020
Made a good block to keep Kucka out early in the first half before pulling off another fine save to deny the Parma midfielder in the second period. Showed good command in his box and was assured with his distribution. A well-deserved clean sheet for the 42-year-old against his boyhood club.
Danilo: 7/10
Continued his good run of form as part of the three-man defensive setup. Read the game well and was good with his positioning to cut any potential threat, as he made three interceptions on the evening along with two clearances. Got forward well on occasions on the right side and played on key pass, while misplacing just two of the 65 passes he attempted.
Leonardo Bonucci: 7/10
A comfortable outing for the veteran Italian defender who was rarely tested at the back by Parma, which gave him the freedom to push upfield regularly. As reliable as ever with the ball at his feet, completing 74 of his 81 passes (91% accuracy), which included 12 accurate long-passes out of 16 attempted. Also made a couple of interceptions.
Matthijs de Ligt: 7/10
Another assured display from the Dutchman who seems to be getting better and growing in stature with each passing game. Always present to kill off any promising attacking move that the hosts conjured up, making two tackles, two clearances while winning 5 of his 10 duels. Distributed well out from the back completing 121 of his 128 passes – the most by any player on the day.
Dejan Kulusevski: 7/10
Kulusevski stats vs Parma
▪47 Touches
▪—84.6% Accurate passes
▪1/4 Ground duels won
▪️1/2 Take-ons won
▪️1 Chance created
▪️1 Key pass
▪1 GoalReturn with a bang. pic.twitter.com/dUDVB51OIY
— Nisrin (@Nisrin_Juve) December 19, 2020
Returning to his old stomping grounds, the Swede showed his clinical touch in front of goal to put Juventus in front with a low driven effort in the 23rd minute. Relatively quiet post that, though, but still managed to complete one dribble and one key pass.
Weston McKennie: 7/10
The USMNT international has been a fine addition to the Juventus midfield unit with his forward surges from the centre and the ability to play teasing balls into the box, which he did on a couple of occasions against Parma which his teammates failed to pounce upon. Misplaced just one pass, played two key passes and created one big chance, while also chipping in with a couple of clearances.
Rodrigo Bentancur: 8.5/10
A fine all-round display from the Uruguayan international, as he ran the show from the middle of the park. Constantly won back possession in midfield before setting his teammates off on attacks with his precise distribution. Won 9 of his 11 ground duels, made a game-high six tackles while also completing an interception and a clearance each.
Bentancur stats v Parma:
▪110 Touches
▪98% Passes succeed
▪3/7 Crosses succeed
▪9/10 Long balls succeed
▪2/2 Take-ons succeed
▪5/6 Tackles succeed
▪7 Recoveries
▪1 Interception
▪1 Clearance
▪3 Chances created
▪3 Key passesWhat a performance. pic.twitter.com/VJpt4jsao4
— Max Statman (@eMaxStatman) December 19, 2020
Bentancur’s quality on the ball was also on display against Parma, as he completed 88 of his 98 passes, that included three key passes. In addition, he also made three successful dribbles, while also testing Luigi Sepe with a couple of efforts from distance.
Aaron Ramsey: 7/10
Could have done better to latch onto a fine pass from McKennie in the first period but looked in far superior touch than he has for most of the season. Constantly on the lookout to make things happen for the attackers, Ramsey completed two key passes and two dribbles, while also getting the assist for Ronaldo’s second goal of the game.
Alex Sandro: 7/10
Was hardly threatened defensively on the left flank which allowed him to dominate proceedings on his side as he looked to push forward regularly. Got the assist for the opening goal with a low cross and completed two key passes along with three dribbles. Alert when needed to be as he made two tackles and won 7 of his 11 duels.
Alvaro Morata: 9/10
Morata stats vs Parma:
▪43 Touches
▪1/2 Take-ons won
▪4 Recoveries
▪4 Fouls won
▪4 Chances created
▪2 Key passes
▪1 Assist
▪1 GoalProved to be Cristiano partner. pic.twitter.com/Nbn937BxLD
— Nisrin (@Nisrin_Juve) December 19, 2020
The player to watch out for in our match preview, Morata bounced back brilliantly from his midweek disappointment against Atalanta. Once again the Atletico Madrid loanee’s understanding and partnership with Ronaldo came to the fore as his movement created space for the Portuguese to get into dangerous positions, while he himself got into promising areas, causing the hosts a lot of trouble.
Assisted Ronaldo’s first goal of the day with a lovely cross from the left flank before getting a well-deserved goal late in the game as he headed home Bernardeschi’s cross. Completed 92% of his passes, made two successful dribbles and two key passes as well.
Cristiano Ronaldo: 9/10
Made up for his underwhelming performance in midweek with a match-winning display at the Ennio Tardini Stadium. Leapt the highest to divert Morata’s cross into the net for Juventus’s second goal on the night before scoring his second early in the second half with a powerful low strike with his left foot.
Just another flight✈ day for Cristiano Ronaldo #JuveParma✈ pic.twitter.com/BwRMBjp6Df
— Respect M12 (@_TotalRM) December 19, 2020
Like his strike partner, Ronaldo, too, made two key passes and completed two successful dribbles and moved to the top of the Serie A goalscoring charts for the season with 12 strikes to his name so far.
SUBSTITUTES
Federico Bernardeschi: 7/10
Sent on in place of Ramsey in the 68th minute, the Italian international got the assist for Morata’s goal with a well-hit cross.
Juan Cuadrado: N/A
On for Bonucci in the 76th minute. Made sure there were no late defensive lapses.
Manolo Portanova: N/A
Replaced McKennie for the final fifteen minutes to make his second Serie A appearance.
Federico Chiesa: N/A
Came on for Ronaldo with less than ten minutes left.
