Cristiano Ronaldo scored to assist Juventus win a record-extending ninth Italian Super Cup by beating Napoli 2-0 on Wednesday.
Napoli missed the possibility to take the match to further time when captain Lorenzo Insigne missed a late penalty and Álvaro Morata sealed the outcome with the final kick of the sport.
“It’s a very happy moment and lifting my first trophy as a coach makes it even better,” Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo stated.
It was Juve’s ninth Super Cup title, taking it two above AC Milan, which is the group with the second most victories within the competitors.
The match showcasing the Serie A and Italian Cup champions is generally thought to be little greater than a pleasant. It was the normal season curtain-raiser in August however has been performed in December or January a number of instances over the previous few seasons.
Juventus got here into the match with Pirlo below growing stress, particularly after a 2-0 loss to title rival Inter Milan on Sunday.
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“It was a tough game and the pitch was difficult, but the team stayed focused and we’ve won an important trophy which will give us a confidence boost,” Ronaldo stated. “Now we must use that to win our upcoming fixtures. As for the league, it’ll be a difficult race, but we’ll be in it.”
It was a cagey match, with few real scoring alternatives, however Juventus ultimately broke the impasse within the sixty fourth minute.
A Juventus nook took a few ricochets earlier than touchdown within the path of Ronaldo, who didn’t miss from shut vary.
Napoli had the possibility to degree 10 minutes from time however Insigne fired his penalty large of the left publish after Dries Mertens had been tripped by Weston McKennie.
Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny did effectively to parry an effort from Piotr Zieliński seconds earlier than Morata completed off a counterattack to safe Pirlo’s first trophy in cost.
ATALANTA HELD
Atalanta missed the possibility to go third in Serie A after being held to a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Udinese in a rearranged match.
Udinese surprised Atalanta by scoring within the opening minute however Luis Muriel canceled out Roberto Pereyra’s aim on the stroke of halftime.
Atalanta remained sixth, a degree beneath the highest 4 and 10 adrift of league chief AC Milan. Udinese is now 4 factors above the relegation zone.
The match in Udine was initially set for Dec. 6 however the floor was waterlogged.
Udinese, which had misplaced 4 of its previous 5 matches, acquired off to an ideal begin when Pereyra lower in from the fitting and positioned an angled drive between keeper Pierluigi Gollini’s legs to present his facet the lead after 23 seconds.
Atalanta dominated possession however it was Udinese which seemed the extra threatening. However, the guests leveled moments earlier than the interval when Muriel gathered the ball simply outdoors the realm and beat two gamers earlier than slotting previous keeper Juan Musso.
Udinese had the ball within the web 4 minutes from time however defender Marvin Zeegelaar’s strike was dominated out for his foul on Gollini.
