Cristiano Ronaldo comes through another injury scare as Juventus claim top spot

Potuguese forward collides with corner flag on his return to Champions League action

Cristiano Ronaldo lies on the pitch after being tackled during the Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. AFP

Ronaldo was returning to action with Juventus after recent injury concerns. AFP

The corner flag pole lies broken after being kicked by Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo during the Champions League game. He was limping after the incident. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri during the game. Reuters

Ronaldo jumps for the ball during the Champions League match between Juventus and Atletico Madrid at the Allianz stadium in Turin. AP

Ronaldo challenges Atletico Madrid's Ghanaian midfielder Thomas. AFP

Juventus' Argentine forward Paulo Dybala (C) celebrates with Ronaldo and teamates after scoring. AFP

Juventus players celebrate after their victory over Atletico Madrid. AFP

Juventus top their group after the 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid. EPA

Cristiano Ronaldo suffered another injury scare as Juventus claimed top spot in their Champions League group with a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in Turin.

Ronaldo was returning to action after recent knee problems, partnered by Paulo Dybala as in-form Gonzalo Higuain started on the bench.

The 34-year-old Portugal international was rested for last Saturday's Serie A win over Atalanta despite scoring four goals for Portugal in the international break after being substituted in Juventus' previous two games.

He had another injury scare in the opening period as he grimaced in pain and limped after colliding with the corner flag as he tried to stop the ball going out of play, but managed to play on.

Dybala's stunning curling free-kick rubber-stamped top spot for Juventus.

The Italian champions had already booked their place for the last 16 with two games to spare but made sure of winning the group with an impressive win.

Diego Simeone's Atletico, meanwhile, will have to wait until their final group game against Lokomotiv Moscow in Madrid to advance to the knockout rounds.

Juventus have 13 points from five games, with Atletico still on seven, one point ahead of third-placed Bayer Leverkusen after their 2-0 win over Lokomotiv.

Atletico had their chances in a balanced first half with Thomas Partey sending a long-range volley wide after 13 minutes, as Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny got down low to smother a goal-bound Saul Niguez effort.

However it was 26-year-old Dybala who was the standout player, and he got the breakthrough just before the break when he curled in a superb strike from a tight angle to leave Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak stunned.

Ronaldo threatened after an hour racing towards goal only to send wide, before Federico Bernadeschi rattled the post after coming on for Welsh international Aaron Ramsey.

Dybala went off to a standing ovation when replaced by Higuain for the last quarter of an hour.

Matthijs de Ligt, who had been a doubt after dislocating his shoulder at the weekend, pulled off a brilliant sliding tackle to steal the ball from the feet of a goal-bound Angel Correa with seven minutes to go.

And Alvaro Morata missed the chance to steal a point in the final moments of the game.

Correa sent the ball across the face of goal but the former Juventus striker failed to finish off on front of an empty goal.