Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Serie A match against Udinese in Turin, Italy, December 15, 2019.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Serie A match against Udinese in Turin, Italy, December 15, 2019.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Juventus beat Udinese 3-1 to join Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A table on Sunday after Antonio Conte's side were held 1-1 at Fiorentina.
Dusan Vlahovic snatched a point for Fiorentina two minutes into injury time to frustrate Inter Milan who had led following Borja Valero's opener after eight minutes in Tuscany.
Both Juventus and Inter Milan have 39 points from 16 games, with Antonio Conte's side ahead on goal difference.
Ronaldo struck twice in the first half to make it five goals in four games as the reigning champions got back winning after last weekend's first defeat of the season to Lazio.
"That's how we have to play, with confidence," said Ronaldo.
The Portuguese star tapped in a Paulo Dybala rebound after nine minutes at the Allianz Stadium, and burst through to finish off a Gonzalo Higuain cross on 36 minutes.
Leonardo Bonucci (R) of Juventus celebrates with teammate Merih Demiral after scoring his team's third goal to seal their 3-1 victory over Udinese during the Serie A match in Turin, Italy, December 15, 2019.
Leonardo Bonucci (R) of Juventus celebrates with teammate Merih Demiral after scoring his team's third goal to seal their 3-1 victory over Udinese during the Serie A match in Turin, Italy, December 15, 2019.
Leonardo Bonucci sealed the three points just before the break when he headed in from close range.
Ignacio Pussetto pulled a goal back for 17th-placed Udinese four minutes into injury time.
"It is the first time after a Champions League match that we managed to attack the game well," said Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri.
"We played very well for 60 minutes."
Borja Valero of Inter Milan celebrates scoring their first goal at 8th minute during the Serie A match against Fiorentina in Florence, Italy, December 15, 2019.
Borja Valero of Inter Milan celebrates scoring their first goal at 8th minute during the Serie A match against Fiorentina in Florence, Italy, December 15, 2019.
In Florence, Valero scored off a Marcelo Brozovic cross against his former club.
But the visitors failed to kill off the game.
Lautaro Martinez had the ball in the net after 39 minutes but it was disallowed because of Romelu Lukaku's offside position.
And Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski did well to deny Lukaku minutes later at full stretch.
But just as it looked like Fiorentina were set to fall to a fifth consecutive defeat, 19-year-old Serb Vlahovic broke through from his own half, outpacing Milan Skriniar to rifle in from an angle.
Fiorentina's 19-year-old Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match against Inter Milan in Florence, Italy, December 15, 2019.
Fiorentina's 19-year-old Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match against Inter Milan in Florence, Italy, December 15, 2019.
It condemned Inter to their second consecutive stalemate after Roma last weekend, and follows their Champions League exit to Barcelona on Tuesday.
"It's the third game where we did not get what we deserved," said Conte.
"We weren't good at taking our many chances.
"Maybe we're paying for fatigue. We've had seven games in 21 days, with Lautaro and Lukaku playing constantly."
The pressure remains on coach Vincenzo Montella with Fiorentina's last win on October 30, and their next game against in-form Roma.
Other Serie A match results from Sunday :
Roma 3-1 SPAL
Bologna 2-1 Atalanta
Verona 3-3 Torino
AC Milan 0-0 Sassuolo
Source(s): AFP