Reggio Emilia: Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo made it a red letter day for the footballing world scoring his 760th career goal to help to Juventus take the Supercoppa Italiana beating Napoli 2-1 at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia on Wednesday(January 20). Alvaro Morata netted the other one for the home side.
Andrea Pirlo set up his side in a 4-4-2 formation with Giorgio Chiellini being paired with Leonardo Bonucci at the centre of the defence. Federcio Chiesa and Weston Mckennie starting as wide midfielders completed a four-man midfield with Arthur alongside Rodrigo Bentancur. Cristiano Ronaldo shared the forward line alongside Dejan Kulusevski.
The Bianconeri gave early scares to the visitors creating dangerous opportunities playing in a free-flowing fashion with full-back Cuadardo providing constant threat in the opposition half.
However, Napoli responded well, Diego Demme curled one in for Andrea Petagna but his header was kept out brilliantly by goalkeeper Szczesny.
Though Juventus were enjoying much of the possession on the ball, Napoli were showing great resilience in countering their attacking prowess.
In the second half however, the home side turned up heat. Cuadrado was shuttling up and down the right flank throughout the game helping Juventus spread up the play while attacking.
Federico Bernadeschi floated one in from the corner ricocheting off Bakayoko before finding Ronaldo who fires it into net breaking Josef Bican’s record(759) to become the highest goal scorer ever.
Napoli got a golden chance when Dries Mertens was taken down in the box by Mckennie with a clumsy challenge but Insigne failed to convert it from the spot. before getting another chance in the stoppage time when Politano squared it off for Lozano but Szczesny came to rescue again for the home side.
Juventus sealed the evening in the last minute of the game as Cuadrado made a surging run into the box before finding Morata who made no mistake in slotting it home to win Supercoppa for his side.
