After kicking away his global virus infection, Cristiano Ronaldo kicked two goals into the net on his return to football action in the Serie A match between Juventus and Spezia. Just three minutes after coming on field as a substitute, he converted a penalty and eventually led Juventus to a 4-1 victory at Spezia.
On the night, Alvaro Morata and Adrien Rabot were also on point in helping Andrea Pirlo's squad rebound after draws in their last three Serie A matches, if we don't consider the 3-0 win they were gifted against Napoli.
Three of Morata's goals were disallowed for offside in the 2-0 loss at home to Barcelona last Wednesday, but he made amends on Sunday, putting Juventus in the lead with the equaliser in the 14th minute as he sent Weston McKennie's cross home, helped by VAR seeing things his way after the goal was initially flagged offside.
Then, once Ronaldo entered the fray with the Serie A champions tied 1-1, they went on to score thrice in the next 20 minutes and shot to third on the points table.
Although Spezia had gotten off to a strong start in the second half, Ronaldo's arrival was their undoing. Soon after the Portuguese came on the field, Morata slipped him the ball and Ronaldo sprinted the ball past his marker and sent it past Ivan Provedel.
That was followed eight minutes later by a burst from Rabiot down the left, as he scythed inside a defender and managed an optimistic shot inside the goal.
Finally, thanks to Federico Chiesa getting pushed by Paolo Bartolomei, Ronaldo was able to convert the penalty to nail his fifth league goal this season.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Vincenzo Pinto
