SAN FRANCISCO, November 05, (THEWILL) –Â Alvaro Morata scored a brace as Juventus claimed a 4-1 win away at Ferencvaros in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League Group G fixture.
Having missed Juve’s opening two Group G games (a win over Dynamo Kiev and a defeat to Barcelona) due to positive coronavirus tests, Portuguese superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo closed in on Spanish keeper Iker Casillas’ record of appearing in 20 successive Champions League seasons when he was in the starting lineup in Budapest.
In that defeat to Barca last week, Juve failed to register a shot on target. But Ronaldo had already given Ferencvaros Hungarian goalkeeper Denes Dibusz work to do inside four minutes.
Three minutes later and Andrea Pirlo’s side had their opener. Colombian defensive midfielder Juan Cuadrado teed up Morata, who tapped in from close range.
Ronaldo almost doubled the score prior to the break, but Slovenian centre back Miha Blazic made a wonderful and timely challenge to prevent what was to be a certain goal.
The Portuguese began the second half just as he did the first. The Juventus number seven recorded another shot on target, forcing Dibusz into action after the restart.
After ignoring Morata for a chance he blazed wide, Ronaldo made amends three minutes later. He supplied a neat pass into the Spaniard, who sent a fantastic finish into the top-right corner.
The goal-scorer was substituted shortly after and his replacement, Argentine centre forward Paulo Dybala, made a swift impact. He tucked into an empty net after Dibusz mishandled a backpass.
Another horrendous goalkeeping from Dibusz gifted Juve a fourth. Dybala again took advantage and defender Lasha Dvali could only to turn Dybala’s strike in off the bar.
Ivorian striker Franck Boli did at least get Ferencvaros on the scoresheet when he finished on the rebound after Slovenian left winger Richard Mak’s shot was deflected in the box.
The Bianconeri now sit second in Group G, three points behind Barca, who beat Dynamo at Camp Nou.
Juve are on the road on Sunday in Serie A to face Lazio next, while Ferencvaros are at home in the Hungarian League to Mezokovesd SE on the same day in their last matches before the international break.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
