Cristiano Ronaldo saved Italian record champions Juventus from losing in the top game against Atalanta Bergamo. With two controversial penalties (55th minute, 90th) he equalized the goals of Duvan Zapata (16th) and Ruslan Malinowski (81st) in the 2-2 (0-1).
The draw brings Juventus closer to the ninth championship in a row. Pursuit Lazio lost the second game in a row to Sassuolo and are eight points behind in six remaining games. Atalanta would have passed Lazio if they won and were only six points behind Juventus.
After the 2: 4 defeat against Milan during the week, the team of coach Maurizio Sarri had major problems again. Especially with Atalanta’s lively captain Papu Gómez, Juventus’ tall central defense had big problems.
As before the 1-0, when Gómez danced around Juve’s summer entry Matthijs de Ligt before sending Zapata into the box with a great plug-in pass (16.). Juventus’ defensive was also unfortunate in the second goal. Malinowski, who had come into play for Gómez, was able to accept the ball in front of the penalty area, put the ball in front of him and hit the right corner with force (81.).
Juventus, however, was lucky that referee Piero Giacomelli pointed twice to the point. First Paolo Dybala shot his opponent Maren de Roon on the arm (54.), then Gonzalo Higuain hit Atalantas Luis Muriel on the arm (89.). Ronaldo didn’t care in either case: he hit the left corner. The 35-year-old is now at 28 goals this season.
