Cristiano Ronaldo settles Turin derby as Juventus extend Serie A lead - in pictures

Portuguese forward's penalty proves the difference as the defending champions open up 11 point lead at the top of the table

Torino midfielder Daniele Baselli, left, argues with Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini after Juve opened the scoring. AFP

Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo sscores the decisive goal from the penalty spot. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo, right, receives a yellow card after scoring from the penalty spot. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring for Juventus against Torino. AFP

Leonardo Bonucci speaks with with Torino's Salvador Ichazo after Cristiano Ronaldo scores their first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

Juventus players celebrate after Cristiano Ronaldo scores a penalty. AFP

Juventus full-back Alex Sandro in action with Torino's Ola Aina and Daniele Baselli. Reuters

Juventus midfielder Emre Can takes on Torino midfielder Vittorio Parigini. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo and Blaise Matuidi celebrate after the final whistle. AFP

Mario Mandzukic, Blaise Matuidi and Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate at the end of the match. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as Juventus beat city rivals Torino on Saturday to maintain their relentless march to an eighth successive Serie A title.

Sixth-placed Torino, who have beaten their more glamorous neighbours just once in the past 23 years, put up a brave show but were undone by an unfortunate mistake by forward Simone Zaza.

Having dispossessed Leonardo Bonucci, Zaza underhit a pass back to Slavador Ichazo, allowing Mario Mandzukic to intercept and the Croatian was then tripped by Torino's substitute goalkeeper.

Ronaldo converted the penalty, despite Ichazo getting a hand to it, to score Juve's 5,000th Serie A goal and leave the leaders with 46 points out of a possible 48 and 11 clear of Napoli, who visit Cagliari on Sunday.

_____________

Read more:

Cristiano Ronaldo issues Serie A challenge to nemesis Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo draws rare blank but Juventus still too strong for 'naive' Inter Milan

_____________

The Portuguese forward then ran straight at Ichazo and nudged him in the shoulder as he celebrated his 11th league goal of the season, leaving him as Serie A's joint top scorer alongside Genoa's Krzysztof Piatek.

"It was a complicated game, played on a difficult pitch against tough opponents," Ronaldo said. "I think we played well and deserved the win."

Ronaldo made an inauspicious start when his free kick, from a dangerous position on the edge of the area, was so wide of the mark that it went out for a throw-in.

Shortly afterwards, he had a shot brilliantly turned around the post by Salvatore Sirigu, who fell awkwardly and had to be replaced by Ichazo.

Torino took the game to Juventus in spirited fashion and kept them on the back foot for much of the time.

Armando Izzo failed to provide the finishing touch after Mattia Perin parried the ball to him then Zaza shot straight at the Juventus goalkeeper as Torino threatened an upset.

Torino kept battling after the break but Juve took control after the goal.

"We had some difficulties in the first half and we weren't patient enough," said Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.

"Also, because of their pressing, we couldn't really get going ... and we could not afford to take too many risks on this pitch."

Torino manager Walter Mazzarri said his side should have had a penalty for a foul on Andrea Belotti.

"I think it was more of a penalty than the one which was given to Juventus," he said. "We'll leave it at, it's disappointing because the lads deserved a draw and maybe a little bit more."