Cristiano Ronaldo fails to score again as Juventus edge Parma

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:28 am

MILAN -- Cristiano Ronaldo was left waiting for his first Juventus goal after drawing another blank as the titleholders won 2-1 at Parma in Serie A on Saturday to maintain their 100 percent record.

An early Mario Mandzukic goal and a second-half strike from Blaise Matuidi gave Juve their third win in as many league games this season, although Ronaldo was left without a goal in his first 270 minutes with the Turin side.

Ivory Coast forward Gervinho scored in between for Parma, his first goal since joining them in the close season.

"[Ronaldo] has to deal with different difficulties in Serie A but he had a good game overall," said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri. "The international break will make him sharper.

"He's the world's best player, he wants to score at all costs but he needs to remain calm and the goals will come in a burst."

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Juventus got the perfect start when Mandzukic's header from a Juan Cuadrado cross hit Simone Iacoponi and rebounded kindly to the Croatian forward who turned the ball into the empty net.

Ronaldo sent a header looping over the bar with his first goal attempt but Parma, who have been to the fourth tier and back since beating Juve 1-0 in their last meeting in 2015, forced their way back into the game.

Leo Stulac thumped a free kick against the crossbar before Gervinho levelled in the 33rd minute, turning the ball in with his knee after Roberto Inglese flicked on Massimo Gobbi's cross.

Juventus took control after halftime and French World Cup winner Matuidi struck the winner from Mandzukic's flick just before the hour.

Ronaldo kept trying but it was a frustrating night for the World Player of the Year as Parma cut off the supply lines and prevented him getting in any of his dipping long-range shots.

The forward's best chance came when a loose ball landed at his feet but Ronaldo shot wide and was also left frustrated when Parma goalkeeper Luigi Sepe managed to intercept a cross and took the ball off his head.

Parma were relegated from Serie A in 2015 and declared bankrupt, then re-entered the league in the fourth tier and won three successive promotions.