• Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with coach Andrea Pirlo after scoring his team's third goal during the Serie A match against Sassuolo. EPA
    Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with coach Andrea Pirlo after scoring his team's third goal during the Serie A match against Sassuolo. EPA
  • Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his team's third goal. EPA
    Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his team's third goal. EPA
  • Danilo (L) celebrates after scoring Juve's first goal. EPA
    Danilo (L) celebrates after scoring Juve's first goal. EPA
  • Sassuolo's Gregoire Defrel, left, celebrates with teammate Manuel Locatelli after levelling at 1-1. AP
    Sassuolo's Gregoire Defrel, left, celebrates with teammate Manuel Locatelli after levelling at 1-1. AP
  • Juventus's Aaron Ramsey, left, celebrates after the second. AP
    Juventus's Aaron Ramsey, left, celebrates after the second. AP
  • Cristiano Ronaldo misses out. Reuters
    Cristiano Ronaldo misses out. Reuters
  • Cristiano Ronaldo in action. Reuters
    Cristiano Ronaldo in action. Reuters
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (R) celebrates with Federico Bernardeschi after scoring the third. AFP
    Cristiano Ronaldo (R) celebrates with Federico Bernardeschi after scoring the third. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo on target again as Juventus climb Serie A - in pictures


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Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Aaron Ramsey helped Juventus to secure a 3-1 victory over 10-man Sassuolo in Serie A, lifting the champions to fourth place.

Following their win at leaders AC Milan in midweek, Juventus struggled to create many chances in the first half, but their cause was aided after Pedro Obiang was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Federico Chiesa just before halftime.

Juventus capitalised on the numerical advantage as Danilo was left in plenty of space to fire home a fierce opener in the 50th minute, but the lead lasted just eight minutes as Gregoire Defrel levelled to stun the hosts.

Ramsey, who has been in and out of the side this season, put Juve in front in the 82nd minute with his first goal of the season. In contrast, Serie A top scorer Ronaldo took his season's tally to 15 as he struck in stoppage-time to complete the win.

The result helped Juve narrow the gap on leaders Milan to seven points, having played one game less. Sassuolo stay seventh.

"Victories are built with everyone's work and sacrifice, we have already made mistakes too many times," Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo said.

"After Milan's win over Torino (on Saturday) we understood that we need maximum concentration and the desire to bring home the victories. We had to continue after the win at the San Siro. It was important to maintain our form."