Buffon breaks record in Juve win, Ronaldo scores from free kick

Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus has edged out AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini at the top of Italian top flight's all-time appearance list in a 4-1 win against Torino on Saturday.

The 42-year-old made 648 appearances in the league and set a new record since he first joined Serie A's Parma in 1995.

Teammate Cristiano Ronaldo also reached a milestone in the Turin derby with a free kick, having bagged his 25th goal this season, becoming the first Juve player to score 25 Serie A goals in a season in 59 years since Omar Sivori in the 1960/61 season.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus (2nd L) celebrates after scoring a goal in the Serie A match against Torino at Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, July 4, 2020. /VCG

More importantly, the goal from last night brought back his much-needed confidence having missed 42 attempts to score a free kick since he joined the Italian side.

Buffon joined Juventus after playing for Parma for six seasons, and spent a year at Ligue 1 giant Paris Saint-Germain where he made 17 outings. With an added 665 appearances in total, he has set another record for most appearances in Europe's top five leagues.

He signed a one-year contract extension with Juventus earlier this week.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan during the Serie A match against Lazio at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, July 4, 2020. /VCG

Juventus received help in their bid for a ninth straight Serie A title later in the day as Ibrahimovic of AC Milan scored one goal and assisted on another in his first start since the coronavirus lockdown against Laio.

AC Milan took the lead when Ibrahimovic teed up Hakan Calhanoglu to score with a long-range deflected effort.

The 38-year-old Swede netted a penalty in the 34th minute to score his fifth goal since rejoining Milan from LA Galaxy in January.

Ibrahimovic was substituted at half-time, but his replacement Ante Rebic put the result beyond doubt in the 59th minute as Lazio's dream of a first league title in 20 years suffered a potentially fatal blow.

Sassuolo moved up to ninth with a 4-2 victory over relegation-threatened Lecce, who stayed 18th and one point adrift of safety after a sixth straight league defeat.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover image: Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in action during the Serie A match against Torino at Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, July 4, 2020. /VCG)