Match ends, Chievo 2, Juventus 3.
Cristiano Ronaldo makes winning start as Juventus beat Chievo 3-2
- From the section European Football
Cristiano Ronaldo made a winning start to his Juventus career as his new club came from behind to beat Chievo 3-2 in a dramatic start to the Serie A season.
Federico Bernardeschi scored a 93rd-minute winner, moments after Juve had a goal ruled out by VAR with Ronaldo at the centre of the incident.
The Portugal captain, a £99.2m signing from Real Madrid, handled the ball before colliding with Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino in the build-up to Mario Mandzukic's goal, which referee Fabrizio Pasqua ruled out on review.
Sami Khedira had put Juventus ahead from close range in the third minute, before Mariusz Stepinski headed in the equaliser.
Emanuele Giaccherini won and scored a penalty to put Chievo in front on 56 minutes, but a Mattia Bani own goal pegged them back before Bernardeschi struck late on.
Ronaldo forced several saves from 39-year-old Sorrentino, who left the match on a stretcher after his late collision with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
How did Ronaldo get on?
Ronaldo, 33, scored in his first game for the Old Lady - their traditional pre-season friendly against the Juventus B team.
That match was held in the small Italian town of Villar Perosa. Its population is 4,000 - but Ronaldo's appearance drew 5,000 fans.
His presence in Verona led to Chievo selling out their 39,000-seater Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, as they more than doubled their average attendance.
Speaking before the match, coach Massimiliano Allegri said he is yet to decide Ronaldo's best position in the team.
With Gonzalo Higuain on loan at AC Milan, the former Manchester United forward started up front on his own against Chievo, with Paulo Dybala in the number 10 role and Douglas Costa and Juan Cuadrado on the wings.
His first chance came in the 19th minute, when he dragged a shot wide from 20 yards. Ten minutes later he tried to volley a left-foot shot across goal from a tight angle.
Ronaldo grew into the game after the break and made his intent clear with a fierce dipping shot from distance that forced Sorrentino into action. He then directed a free header straight at the goalkeeper.
With the introduction of Mandzukic as a central striker in the 64th minute, Ronaldo moved out to the left.
He seemed more effective cutting in on his right foot, and his best chance came when forced a diving one-handed save from Sorrentino with a curling shot.
A last-ditch tackle by Fabrizio Cacciatore deflected another Ronaldo shot onto the roof of the net, before Sorrentino saved a trademark free-kick.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Chievo
- 70SorrentinoSubstituted forSeculinat 90+1'minutes
- 40TomovicBooked at 90mins
- 15Rossettini
- 14Bani
- 29Cacciatore
- 4Rigoni
- 8RadovanovicBooked at 60mins
- 56HetemajSubstituted forObiat 78'minutes
- 27Depaoli
- 9StepinskiSubstituted forDjordjevicat 66'minutes
- 17Giaccherini
Substitutes
- 1Semper
- 3Tanasijevic
- 5Barba
- 11Leris
- 13Kiyine
- 16Seculin
- 20Djordjevic
- 22Obi
- 23Birsa
- 31Pellissier
- 44Jaroszynski
- 69Meggiorini
Juventus
- 1Szczesny
- 20Cavaco Cancelo
- 19Bonucci
- 3Chiellini
- 12Lobo Silva
- 6KhediraSubstituted forCanat 84'minutes
- 5Pjanic
- 16Ju CuadradoSubstituted forBernardeschiat 56'minutes
- 10Dybala
- 11Douglas CostaSubstituted forMandzukicat 64'minutes
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
Substitutes
- 4Benatia
- 14Matuidi
- 15Barzagli
- 17Mandzukic
- 21Pinsoglio
- 22Perin
- 23Can
- 24Rugani
- 30Bentancur
- 33Bernardeschi
- Referee:
- Fabrizio Pasqua
Match Stats
Home TeamChievoAway TeamJuventus
- Possession
- Home27%
- Away73%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away26
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away10
- Corners
- Home0
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away9
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chievo 2, Juventus 3.
Booking
Nenad Tomovic (Chievo) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Mario Mandzukic (Juventus) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Nenad Tomovic (Chievo).
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Filip Djordjevic (Chievo).
Goal!
Goal! Chievo 2, Juventus 3. Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alex Sandro.
Substitution
Substitution, Chievo. Andrea Seculin replaces Stefano Sorrentino because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
VAR: Goal. Referee decision on field cancelled.
Delay in match (Juventus). Video Review.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Stefano Sorrentino (Chievo) because of an injury.
Foul by Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus).
Stefano Sorrentino (Chievo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Emre Can (Juventus) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by João Cancelo with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Juventus. Emre Can replaces Sami Khedira.
Attempt missed. Fabrizio Cacciatore (Chievo) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Joel Obi.
Offside, Chievo. Fabio Depaoli tries a through ball, but Filip Djordjevic is caught offside.
Offside, Juventus. Miralem Pjanic tries a through ball, but Federico Bernardeschi is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Alex Sandro with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Chievo. Joel Obi replaces Perparim Hetemaj.
Foul by Alex Sandro (Juventus).
Emanuele Giaccherini (Chievo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the centre of the goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Filip Djordjevic (Chievo).
Goal!
Own Goal by Mattia Bani, Chievo. Chievo 2, Juventus 2.
Corner, Juventus. Conceded by Fabrizio Cacciatore.
Attempt missed. Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo with a cross.
Attempt saved. Paulo Dybala (Juventus) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by João Cancelo.
Attempt missed. Mario Mandzukic (Juventus) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo with a cross.
Foul by João Cancelo (Juventus).
Emanuele Giaccherini (Chievo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. João Cancelo (Juventus) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Juventus. Conceded by Fabrizio Cacciatore.
Attempt blocked. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Paulo Dybala with a through ball.
Foul by Paulo Dybala (Juventus).
Perparim Hetemaj (Chievo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
