Cristiano Ronaldo added to his highlight reel with a leap out of the NBA playbook and a stunning header that helped Juventus sink Sampdoria.
Maurizio Sarri s side were 2-1 winners at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa on Wednesday, with Ronaldo grabbing what proved to be the winner just before half-time.
He produced a phenomenally athletic jump described as like the leap of an NBA player by Sampdoria boss Claudio Ranieri to meet a left-wing cross from Alex Sandro and power a back-post header past Emil Audero.
It was a second stunning goal from the visitors in the first half, after Paulo Dybala volleyed in another Alex Sandro cross.
Gianluca Caprari briefly brought Sampdoria level, but his night ended in a late red card for two bookable offences while Juventus closed out victory.
Ronaldo told Sky Sport Italia: I m very happy with the result. It s been a very difficult match against a Sampdoria team who played well. We managed to do even better and deservedly got this victory.
The team played with a great attitude. The goal was great, especially because it was decisive for winning the three points. I didn t know I was up [in the air] so long.
THAT HAAAAANGTIME!
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)
Ronaldo and Juventus now turn their focus to taking on Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana on Sunday in Saudi Arabia.
A final always starts at 50-50, Ronaldo said. Lazio have an excellent team, but I m convinced that Juve can win the match.
Ranieri s Sampdoria side lack firepower and sit 16th in a table that is topped by Juventus.
Despite their troubles in front of goal, Samp were competitive for long stretches, but rarely looked capable of finding a second equaliser.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Ranieri said: I m very satisfied with the performance of the boys.
When they [Juventus] scored goals like this, we just have to admire them as two masterpieces.
Ronaldo scored in NBA style he was up there for an hour and a half.
Ranieri acknowledged the lack of a clinical touch in attack, saying the team s next challenge was finding the goal, because currently that s our worry .
I hope we get to score more often, he added. Little by little there is more serenity.
— Gianluigi Buffon (@gianluigibuffon)
It was a night where Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon matched Paolo Maldini s record of 647 Serie A appearances, and Ranieri, a former Juve boss, praised the achievement.
We spent two years working together, Ranieri said. I congratulated him on the Serie A record and wished him happy holidays.
