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Cristiano Ronaldo Warms Up For Valencia Rematch By Leading Juventus Past SPAL

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Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic gave Juventus a simple 2-0 win over SPAL as the Bianconeri warmed up for Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Valencia.

Over 41,000 packed into the Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening, braving the chilly conditions, to witness Ronaldo move joint top of the goalscoring charts with his ninth of the season.

Mandzukic, on his first outing as Juventus captain, doubled the lead on the hour mark.

After being limited to just one shot on target over the match, SPAL have won just one Serie A match in 35 against Juventus, who continue their unbeaten start to the domestic season.

A change in formation from Juventus saw the Bianconeri line-up in a 4-4-2, with Douglas Costa and Juan Cuadrado flanking Ronaldo and Mandzukic.

Despite starting slowly, Juventus did have the ball in the back of the net early on, but Alfred Gomis‘ goal kick never made it out of the box, which resulted in the eventual goal being chopped off.

Not that is mattered, as the home side asserted their dominance as the first half wore on.

First Douglas Costa tested Gomis from distance, then forced a wonderful save from the SPAL goalkeeper with a curling left-footed strike.

Then just before the half hour, an unmarked Ronaldo tapped home a Miralem Pjanic freekick from close range.

After the break, it should have been two as Douglas Costa smashed one off the inside of the post, with Ronaldo then side-footing the rebound wide.

It was two after a Douglas Costa effort was parried by Gomis into the path of Mandzukic who tapped in with ease.

Gomis had to be alert again as Ronaldo rifled a low drive towards the bottom corner, before Jasmin Kurtic fired wide at the other end.

Ronaldo went close to a second after being played in on goal by Cuadrado, but dragged his shot wide.

He’ll be happy with the three points and to have gotten on the scoresheet, with the No.7’s attention now turning to Valencia and the chance to make amends for his red card in the previous meeting with Los Che.

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