Sassuolo 1-3 Juventus: Ronaldo nets 100th goal but visitors remain in fifth despite victory

Sassuolo 1-3 Juventus: Cristiano Ronaldo sets another goalscoring record by netting 100th goal for Juve after Gianluigi Buffon becomes oldest goalkeeper to save Serie A penalty but visitors remain in fifth despite victory

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 100th goal for Juventus in all competitions kept alive his side’s hopes of a top-four Serie A finish after a 3-1 away win against an impressive Sassuolo on Wednesday.

The result was not easy to come by for Juve, with returning goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saving an early penalty, but goals from Adrien Rabiot, Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala meant they stayed fifth, two points off the Champions League qualification places. 

Buffon, who announced this week that he is leaving the club at the end of the season, replaced Wojciech Szczesny in goal and immediately showed he has lost none of his ability as he brilliantly kept out Domenico Berardi’s spot-kick.

Cristiano Ronaldo (above) scored his 100th goal for Juventus on Wednesday night

The Juventus forward became the first player to score 100 goals in three different countries

The Juventus forward became the first player to score 100 goals in three different countries

The chances kept coming and going for the home side, and their profligacy proved costly as Adrien Rabiot drilled home the opener in the 28th minute, before Ronaldo reached another goal landmark just before the break.

Sassuolo continued to do everything but score, until Giacomo Raspadori did finally beat Buffon just before the hour mark.

But Dybala also reached a century of Juve goals, with a fine finish six minutes later to ensure they kept pace with their top-four rivals Atalanta, AC Milan and Napoli, who all won in the latest round of matches, with two games to play. 

Legend Gianluigi Buffon, 43, became the oldest goalkeeper to save a Serie A penalty

Legend Gianluigi Buffon, 43, became the oldest goalkeeper to save a Serie A penalty