Ronaldo's penalty double edges Juve nearer to title in Atalanta draw
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties due to Juventus snatched a good dramatic 2-2 pull against Atalanta on Saturday to take a massive step towards a ninth straight Serie A good title.
Lazio's 2-1 damage to Sassuolo early in the day gave Atalanta, on an 11-meet winning streak heading in to the game, the opportunity to maneuver second and slice the gap to Juve to six points.
But despite trailing twice and appearing outplayed for much time periods, Maurizio Sarri's Juventus moved eight points very clear at the very top with six suits remaining as Ronaldo took his tally to 28 league goals this season.
"We can not make calculations but, we can not take our foot off the gas until we happen to be mathematically champions," explained Juve captain Leonardo Bonucci.
It was an ultimately frustrating outing for Atalanta who stay third, nine points off the speed, after conceding both spot-kicks for handball.
"What are we designed to do, slice our arms off? You can at most put your arms before the body," Atalanta mentor Gian Piero Gasperini advised DAZN.
"The interpretation of the rule isn't the same here as somewhere else. Other countries don't offer penalties like that.
"These are the guidelines here, fine."
Juve started brightly nonetheless it did not have long for the visitors to assume control and commence to dominate possession.
Josip Ilicic fired the first proper chance of the overall game wide, but Atalanta grabbed the lead found in the 16th minute, scoring for the 25th consecutive meet in all competitions.
Papu Gomez was the creator, wriggling free in midfield before exchanging passes with Duvan Zapata before sliding the ball again for the Colombian to drill house his 15th league goal of the plan.
The target made Atalanta the first Serie A club in almost 70 years to have three players score 15 times in a league season, with Zapata joining Ilicic and Luis Muriel in reaching the mark.
Zapata was proving a genuine nuisance for Juve, with Matthijs de Ligt successful to block another goalbound work, prior to the striker narrowly didn't hook up with Timothy Castagne's cross.
Paulo Dybala almost levelled for the hosts against the go of play, but his volley was deflected wide.
The reigning champions were gifted a route back to the game nine mins after half-time as Marten de Roon was penalised for handling Dybala's cross.
Ronaldo stepped up to rating his 27th Serie An objective this term, drawing him within two of Lazio's Ciro Immobile near the top of the goalscoring charts.
Atalanta continued to strike searching for the victory they needed to enhance their title hopes, but shortly after substitute Muriel fired a good free-kick into the wall, Malinovskiy's low hit flicked the base of the post.
Ronaldo almost put Juve in front with ten minutes to play, but going to goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini manufactured an outstanding save to preserve out the Portuguese star's half-volley.
Malinovskiy did put Atalanta back to the lead found in the 81st minute, as Muriel chosen his fellow sub to hammer a fierce shot recent Wojciech Szczesny.
But Atalanta shot themselves in the ft . again in the 90th minute, mainly because Ronaldo fired in his second spot-kick after Muriel was penalised for handball.
- Lazio stumble again -
Previously Saturday, Lazio's title desire suffered yet another setback due to Francesco Caputo's injury-period header grabbed Sassuolo a late victory in the Stadio Olimpico.
The administrative centre club sit eight points adrift of Juve within their tilt at a first league title since 2000, but have suffered three direct defeats.
"Discussing the Scudetto was generally a little of a stretch and we must look reality in the face," mentor Simone Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.
"It doesn't mean we gives up. Next time, in the Champions League, we'll be able to rotate the squad extra."
Luis Alberto gave Lazio a first-half lead, but that was their only shot on aim for in the match as Sassuolo fought back again through goals from Giacomo Raspadori, on his full league debut, and Caputo.
Roma strengthened their grasp on a Europa League slot with a comfortable 3-0 gain at relegation-threatened Brescia.
