Cristiano Ronaldo leaped above a Sampdoria defender and hung in the air for few seconds, before scoring with a forceful header through the top of the net minutes before the break. Earlier, Gianluca Caprari e out Paulo equalized the lead that Juve had through a perfect volley from Dybala.
“The goal was nice, but I am especially happy to have helped the team to get the three points,” CR7 said. “The important thing is to help Juventus win titles.”
Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri said all he could do was applaud. He was visibly amused during the goal and his coaching staff also joined Ranieri admiring Ronaldo’s effort.
“When someone scores a goal like that, you have to just watch and admire,” he said. “Ronaldo scored in the style of an NBA player; he was in the air for an hour and a half.”
Ronaldo had a goal draught in November but now has six in his past five matches and he is second highest goal scorer in Serie A.
“I had a problem with my knee, which affected me for a month, but now I feel very good,” Ronaldo said.
Juventus moved three points ahead of Inter Milan, which has played a game less than the defending champion.
Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri repeated starting line up, with the attacking trident of Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Initially Paulo Dybala provided Juventus the lead at the 19th minute when he hit Alex Sandro’s cross on the volley, and it bounced onto the ground and hit the net at far bottom corner. Alex Sandro again was responsible for 35th equaliser from Sampdoria, which led to Caprari’s goal.
But the Brazil defender again changed fate of the match when he his cross from the left to set up Ronaldo’s spectacular header. Another Ronaldo goal was ruled out for offside in the second half.
Caprari was shown red in stoppage time for an elbow on Juventus defender Merih Demiral.
