COSTA IS OFF! The referee gets word of the incident and gives the Brazilian his marching orders. It's a terrible end to an excellent performance off the bench for Douglas Costa! And surely there will be further discipline coming?
90' +2
THE REFEREE HAS MISSED A HUGE CALL! Replays show Costa spit in the face of Di Francesco as the players were lined up at the halfway line. The referee hasn't spotted it, but surely VAR will?!
90' +1
Douglas Costa gets yellow.
K. Babacar has scored a goal for Sassuolo! Assist by C. Dell'Orco.
A delicious delivery from Dell'Orco, who provides the assist.
SASSUOLO PULL ONE BACK! 2-1! Dell'Orco bends a delicious cross into the area and Babacar sends a wonderful glancing header in at the far post! Life for Sassuolo, but is it too late?!
HOW IS HE NOT OFF?! Douglas Costa fouled Di Francesco in the build-up to the goal, and then amidst Sassuolo's celebrations, Costa confronts the forward again and throws a nasty headbutt at him! That was blatant and right in front of the referee! How is that not a red card?!
90'
There will be just three minutes added on at the end of this match.
89'
Juventus have seen this out in a very professional manner, stifling Sassuolo's rather muted attempts at a comeback. The visitors have just lacked that cutting edge in possession, and that will ultimately prove to be their downfall.
87'
Tempers boiling over here as Boateng and Matuidi butt heads and clash near the halfway line. Sassuolo are understandably frustrated, having performed so well today with nothing to show for it.
83'
K. Babacar enters the game and replaces M. Locatelli.
The final substitution of the match for either side sees Sassuolo bring on an extra striker in Babacar, with midfielder Locatelli replaced.
82'
RONALDO MISSES ANOTHER SITTER! If he exits this match without the hat-trick, he will surely be losing sleep tonight! Consigli pushes a rebound straight at him following a strike from distance, but he scuffs the contact and knocks it wide! Unbelievable!
80'
J. Cuadrado enters the game and replaces Alex Sandro.
The final Juventus change of the match sees Cuadrado, who has been playing a lot of full-back this season, replace Sandro.
Minute
Description
78'
HOW HAS HE MISSED THAT?! Ronaldo latches onto a cross at the far post, somehow left unmarked by the Sassuolo defence, but his first-time effort is sent back across goal and wide of the mark! He kicks the post in frustration having missed a glorious opportunity for the hat-trick. You don't see him miss those often!
76'
FINE SAVE FROM SZCZESNY! Duncan has has a hunger for goal all match, trying his luck on more than a few occasions from distance, but this one is head over heels his best of the lot, as he forces Szczesny into an excellent save with a left-footed effort from 25 yards!
74'
Great play from Costa! He does excellently to weave his way into the penalty area and tee up Ronaldo with a clever reverse ball, but the forward's effort is hit straight at Consigli! Nearly the hat-trick. Costa has been terrific since coming on.
72'
C. Dell'Orco enters the game and replaces Rogério.
And with Sassuolo's second switch, Dell'Orco comes on in place of Rogerio.
71'
R. Bentancur enters the game and replaces E. Can.
Juventus' second change of the afternoon sees Bentancur replace Can for some fresh legs in midfield.
69'
The scoreline is a bit harsh on Sassuolo, it must be said. They have battled admirably in this match and really have not given up many chances, but an errant touch in defence and a moment of class from Ronaldo will likely see them leave Turin empty handed.
67'
This is the breakout Juventus fans were waiting for, and it couldn't have come at a much better time for Ronaldo with their Champions League campaign getting underway on Wednesday night. He's on a hat-trick now, and you know he will run himself into the ground in search of it.
65'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Juventus! Assist by E. Can.
Can provides the assist, but Costa's ball to Khedira in the build-up was the key pass that put Sassuolo under pressure.
IT'S CRISTIANO'S DAY! 2-0 JUVENTUS! He always had the appetite, now he has the taste, and the goals keep coming! His second of the half is a vintage Ronaldo strike, driving a left-footed strike across goal, leaving the keeper rooted to his spot!
61'
F. Di Francesco enters the game and replaces F. Đuričić.
Douglas Costa enters the game and replaces M. Mandžukić.
Sassuolo make their first change of the match as Di Francesco replaces Duricic in attack. That should see Boateng move out wide.
A change for Juventus as well, at the hour mark, with Douglas Costa replacing Mandzukic. Costa will play on the right, with Dybala up top and Ronaldo on the left.
60'
Alex Sandro gets yellow.
Sandro gives away an incredibly unnecessary free-kick in a dangerous position, for a cynical challenge on Berardi on the edge of the attacking third, when he had plenty of cover. That will see him into the book.
58'
Well the shackles are off Ronaldo now, and you can see how hungry he is for another. A bursting run down the left amounts to nothing as two Sassuolo defenders converge to cut him off, before a cross in for him, unmarked at the far post, is over-hit and behind for a goal kick.
56'
Sassuolo have actually responded quite well to falling behind, as they push forward in search of a quick equaliser. They're just lacking that decisive ball when they do break into the final third.
52'
Well that's brought the stadium to life! These fans didn't have a whole lot to cheer about in the first half, but Juventus have the lead and it's the man they wanted scoring the goal. Now that Ronaldo has the first one out of the way, the sky is the limit you would think.
50'
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal for Juventus!
RONALDO BREAKS HIS GOOSE EGG! 1-0 JUVENTUS! Allianz Stadium erupts as Ronaldo turns in his first Serie A goal, and he couldn't have asked for an easier finish! Ferrari tried to head behind a corner, but his clearance actually hits off the inside of the post and comes straight to Ronaldo, who pokes in the easiest finish of his life from a yard out with no one around him!
49'
SENSATIONAL DEFENDING! Sandro clips a cross in to the far post, which Mandzukic heads dangerously back across goal, but Ferrari slides in quite splendidly to turn it over the bar!
48'
Juventus are showing a bit more urgency since the restart, putting a greater emphasis on getting the ball forward with some incisive passes, as opposed to simply focusing on keeping possession. Sassuolo, however, appear very much up to the task.
46'
Back underway in Turin!
45' +3
HALF-TIME: JUVENTUS 0-0 SASSUOLO.
45' +1
There will be three minutes added on at the end of this first half. Sassuolo are camped out in the attacking half at the moment, and you can hear these home supporters growing unsettled. They haven't had much to cheer about in this first half.
44'
Sassuolo only appear to be getting strong as this match wears on, continuously growing into the game and growing in belief. They're doing a masterful job of keeping Juventus at arm's length, while offering an increased threat in possession.
40'
M. Bourabia gets yellow.
Bourabia stands firm in midfield, blocking the path of Can and sending the Juventus midfielder crashing to ground, which doesn't please the referee who produces a yellow card.
38'
HUGE SAVE! Juventus' turn to attack here and Consigli is called into an action, after Cancelo's terrific cross in from the right is volleyed emphatically at goal by Lirola, who nearly scores on his own net only to be bailed out by the terrific reflexes of his keeper!
36'
More good attacking play from Sassuolo sees them win a corner after Berardi's shot deflects behind for a corner. The visitors keep possession from the ensuing set-piece, but play comes to a halt as Ferrari goes down after being on the receiving end of a strong elbow from Bonucci.
34'
Sassuolo have done really well to weather the storm, coming out of it unscathed. They're enjoying more possession of their own now, and doing a good job of transitioning into attack.
32'
João Cancelo gets yellow.
Joao Cancelo, who is starting after De Sciglio was injured very late in the warm-up, is the first Juventus player booked in the match. That's three total yellows shown by the referee already, just over 30 minutes into this match.
28'
This is a tough spell for Sassuolo, who are being asked a lot of questions in defence now. Juventus are committing a lot of bodies forward, and pressing high up the pitch when they concede possession. The visitors are being afforded little breathing room, needing to offer more of a threat going forward to make the hosts stay back a bit more and respect the possible danger.
26'
D. Berardi gets yellow.
Berardi is the second Sassuolo player booked in three minutes, as Juventus start to ramp up the pressure.
25'
Sassuolo escape! Marlon plays himself into all sorts of unnecessary trouble as he's dispossessed by Matuidi in his own penalty area. The Juventus midfielder pulls it back for Dybala, who sees his shot blocked straight into the path of Mandzukic, but the Croatia international is unable to get his shot through the carnage as well!
23'
F. Đuričić gets yellow.
Duricic becomes the first player booked in the match, for a tug on the shirt of Ronaldo, preventing the forward from bursting forward.
22'
Ferrari is making himself a real nuisance from these set-pieces! Again he meets a corner, this time without a foul in the build-up, but his header is straight at Szczesny!
19'
Sassuolo are doing an excellent job of making life difficult on the hosts, contesting every ball with a very physical approach. They remain well-organised in defence, playing a much less open game than they had in their previous two. Of course that should have been expected against a club of Juventus' stature.
17'
Ronaldo is almost playing in midfield here, using his wide range of passing and strength on the ball to help Juventus in their build-up. Of course Allegri would prefer there to be no need for that and for the forward to see enough of the ball up top to not have to drop deeper.
15'
Play comes to a halt as Berardi requires some treatment from the training staff, following a hard fall stemming from a collision with Khedira and Duncan. He took a hard knock to the midriff there, and very well could have had the wind knocked out of him.
13'
Just a minute or so after Ronaldo misses with a header at one end, Sassuolo respond and win a corner. Ferrari rises to meet it, forcing Szczesny into a strong save as the keeper has to parry off the bar, but a foul was called with the ball in the air anyhow so it would not have counted.
9'
They're coming closer! Juventus are really starting to hit a groove, playing much more direct and utilising some excellent movement off the ball. A long string of passes culminates in Ronaldo playing Matuidi through with a clever back-heel, but a heavy touch from the midfielder sees the ball roll behind for a goal kick.
7'
Lovely work from Rogerio, who scampers across and slides in to deflect Ronaldo's strike behind for a corner. This comes after Juventus' first real threatening move of the afternoon, with some strong interplay down the left flank and Sandro heavily involved.
5'
Ronaldo flashes his skill in midfield, displaying some lovely footwork to win a free-kick. He's being made to drop much deeper than they would probably like him to in order to get in possession, however. At least early on that's proving the case.
3'
No early threat offered by either side as they feel each other out and look to get settled into the match. The majority of possession is coming in the midfield third, with minimal movement off the ball.
1'
AND THEY'RE OFF! Sassuolo in green and black as they get the match underway, with Juventus in white and black.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of this Serie A match as Juventus welcome Sassuolo to Allianz Stadium!
Juventus are perfect through three league matches, as everything has started perfectly in the Cristiano Ronaldo era, except for one small thing – the forward has yet to score his first Serie A goal. Could today be the day?
Massimiliano Allegri’s team selection today will be of interest, given the Bianconeri begin their Champions League campaign on Wednesday night in Valencia. In fact, this begins a run of seven matches in the next 21 days leading into the next international break.
Perhaps by technical definition Sassuolo’s start to the campaign hasn’t been perfect, but it sure has been close. They have taken seven points from their first three matches, including a strong resume-building victory over Inter.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side have been scoring in bunches – eight in three matches – but have a bit of work to do defensively. They certainly play an entertaining brand of football, but that could be their Achilles heel as they get set for their date with Ronaldo and company.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
JUVENTUS (4-3-3): Woijciech Szczesny; Mattia De Sciglio, Medhi Benatia, Leonardo Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Sami Khedira, Emre Can, Blaise Matuidi; Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Cristiano Ronaldo.
SASSUOLO (4-3-3): Andrea Consigli; Pol Lirola, Marlon, Gian Marco Ferrari, Rogerio; Alfred Duncan, Manuel Locatelli, Mehdi Bourabia; Domenico Berardi, Filip Duricic, Kevin-Prince Boateng.
SUBS: Mattia Perin, Carlo Pinsoglio, Giorgio Chiellini, Joao Cancelo, Daniele Rugani, Miralem Pjanic, Rodrigo Bentancur, Douglas Costa, Juan Cuadrado, Moise Kean, Federico Bernardeschi.
Allegri makes four changes from their victory over Parma a fortnight ago. Dybala surprisingly isn't rested ahead of Wednesday, as he starts alongside Ronaldo and Mandzukic in attack, replacing Bernardeschi. Can comes into midfield at the expense of Pjanic, while De Scigli and Benatia start ahead of Cuadrado and Chiellini in defence.
De Zerbi makes three changes from the victory over Genoa, one in each facet of the pitch. Duricic starts ahead of Babacar in attack, meaning Boateng will lead the line. Bourabia comes into midfield and Marlon into defence, as Magnani and Lemos are dropped to the bench, with the visitors reverting to a more standard four-man defence.
Parity reigns through 45 minutes at Allianz Stadium, as the elusive first goal of the match, and first goal of the season in Cristiano Ronaldo's case, is nowhere to be found. Sassuolo are defending excellently, and their confidence has continued to grow throughout the first half. An interesting 45 minutes to come in Turin.
Cristiano Ronaldo's first and second Serie A goals cap off a strong second half for Juventus, sealing a fourth successive win to start the season. It was a professional display from the hosts, up until the bitter end as Khouma Babacar's consolation goal was quickly followed by a red card for Douglas Costa, who will be facing a lengthy suspension for spitting in the face of Federico Di Francesco.
That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
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