Serie A

CRISTIANO RONALDO somehow avoided a red card after kicking the opposition goalkeeper in the neck.
And to make matters worse for Cagliari, the Juventus forward went on to score a hat-trick and secure a 3-1 win on Sunday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo escaped without a red card despite this horror challenge on Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio CragnoCredit: AFP or licensors

With Juve leading 1-0 thanks to his bullet header, the game could have changed in the 14th minute when Ronaldo went flying in for a tackle.
Goalkeeper Alessio Cragno bravely palmed the high ball away under pressure.
But Ronaldo dangerously left his right boot incredibly high and clattered into the face and neck of Cragno.
The stopper stayed down injured and suffered a nasty gash on his chin which required treatment.

Ronaldo deserved a red card.
Ex-referee Luca Marelli

Referee Gianpaolo Calvarese showed a yellow card to the 35-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner but for some reason did not watch a replay on the VAR monitor as Ronaldo got a lucky escape.
This was a clear example of serious foul play where a player endangers the safety of an opponent – as per Rule 12.3 of the Ifab Laws of the Game.
The ruling says: “Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.”
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Cagliari president Tommaso Giulini was furious Ronaldo did not see red.
He told Sky Sport Italia: “I am above all upset that Ronaldo was not sent off, as that incident could’ve changed the game.
“It was dangerous play, it put the safety of our goalkeeper at risk and therefore ought to be punished with a red card. This is what the rulebook states.”
Plenty of fans also vented their anger at the inexplicable decision not to send Ronaldo off.
One fumed: “Juve mafia. Ronaldo starts his wwe career with a yellow for this. CLEAR RED FOR RONALDO.
“He should’ve gotten this red in the 14th minute so it would’ve changed the game massively.”
Another fumed: “This is a red card 10/10 times unless you have ‘Ronaldo’ written on the back of your shirt.”
Former referee Luca Marelli agreed and said: “Ronaldo deserved a red card, although not intentional, it’s a serious foul that deserved a red card, too bad VAR didn’t intervene.”
However, another ex-whistler, Paolo Casarin, stuck by Calvarese’s call with his own personal interpretation of the rules – which seemed to suggest he was taking intent into consideration.

He should have been shown a red card !! Karate kid on the goalkeeper ! But hey it’s Juventus ! Thieves !!
— Maxus 😎 (@SzymonJG) March 15, 2021

How did Ronaldo not get a red card that’s 100% straight red card
— Ali 米国カリフォルニア州のSANADAスタン (@MaskOfSANADA) March 14, 2021

100% red card if it’s anyone else in the field!!!!!!!
— I_Smell_A_Rat (@ISmellARat4) March 14, 2021

He told Corriere dello Sport: “I was surprised by Cristiano Ronaldo’s entry on Cragno and I went to carefully read the rules to see what they say.
“The contact was absolutely not [worthy of a] red, since there was no vigour and nastiness.”
Ronaldo put the incident behind him to race clear and win a penalty on 25 minutes, with Cragno the man to bring the Portuguese down.
He blasted his penalty in before completing his hat-trick with a left-footed strike just after the half-hour mark.
The Juventus star – who came in for heavy criticism following their Champions League exit to Porto last week – touched the top of his neck in celebration.
It is thought he was pointing to his ear to silence the haters but others interpreted it as him suggesting he only caught Cragno in the neck.
The win for Andrea Pirlo’s side moved them on to 55 points, ten behind Serie A leaders Inter.

Ronaldo opened the scoring with a bullet header and completed his hat-trick inside 32 minutesCredit: Getty

Ronaldo and Cragno clashed again as the goalkeeper brought the Juve forward down for a penaltyCredit: AP:Associated Press

Yes it’s there on the neck that Cristiano has hit Cragno
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) March 14, 2021

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AARON RAMSEY is a major doubt for Wales’ upcoming World Cup qualifiers with a thigh injury.
The 30-year-old, who played in Juventus’ Champions League defeat to Porto in midweek, was unavailable for the 3-1 win Serie A win over Cagliari.

Aaron Ramsey, 30, could miss Wales’ upcoming games because of injuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Dragons caretaker boss Robert Page names his squad on Monday for the Group E qualifying clashes against Belgium in Leuven on March 24 before hosting the Czech Republic six days later.
Discussing Ramsey in his pre-match press conference, Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo said: “He has physical problems and is unable to get continuity to his performances because he has to stop every two or three games.
“In the past, he has had major problems that have kept him away from the pitch for months.
“He is precious because he knows how to make the team play well and he plays well.

“He has only this physical weakness that forces him to stay out every now and then.”
Ramsey has featured just 18 times in Serie A this season, scoring twice, and has played the full 90 minutes just twice.
The national side are awaiting results of a scan before they can confirm the former Arsenal star’s absence.
Ramsey has won 61 caps for Wales and was a star performer during the run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals but the frequency of his injuries has hampered his availability.

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Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club

Despite Ramsey’s absence, Juve bounced back from their Champions League disappointment – Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a 32-minute hat-trick to seal all three points.
The Welshman joined Juventus from the Gunners on a free transfer in 2019.
It is estimated the Gunners have lost more than £200million in transfer fees because of bad business.
Arsenal legend Robert Pires believes Ramsey will return to the club in the next few years.
Juventus are said to be keen on bringing Paul Pogba back to Turin, although Manchester United are not believed to be interested in a swap deal involving Ramsey.

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PELE has congratulated Cristiano Ronaldo for beating his career goals tally.
The Juventus superstar netted a hat-trick today, as Andrea Pirlo’s side downed Cagliari 3-1 in Serie A.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, celebrates clinching his hat-trick against Cagliari – the goals took his career tally to a whopping 770Credit: Getty Images – Getty

CR7 shares a lot of respect with Brazilian legend PeleCredit: AFP

Many believed that Ronaldo, 36, surpassed the Brazilian’s record in January, when he netted his 757th and 758th official goals against Udinese.
So some eyebrows were raised when Pele sent a tweet this afternoon, congratulating the Portuguese forward.
The 80-year-old tweeted, alongside a picture of the duo: “@Cristiano, what a beautiful journey you are having!
“I admire you a lot and this is no secret to anyone. Congratulations on breaking my record of goals in official matches.

“I leave this photo in your honour, with great affection, as a symbol of a friendship that has existed for many years.”
Ronaldo himself took to his Facebook page to clear up the situation.
He wrote: “The last few weeks were filled with news and stats considering me the World’s Top Scorer in football history, overcoming Pele’s 757 official goals. Although I’m thankful for that recognition, now it’s time for me to explain why I didn’t acknowledge that record until this moment.
“My everlasting and unconditional admiration for mister Edson Arantes do Nascimento, such as the respect that I have for mid-20th century football, led me to take into account his 767 score, assuming his 9 goals for Sao Paulo State Team, as well as his single goal for the Brazilian Military Team, as official goals.

Pele, 80, remains one of the most decorated players in the history of footballCredit: Alamy

“The World as changed since then and football as changed as well, but this doesn’t mean that we can just erase history according to our interests.
“Today, as I reach the 770th official goal in my professional career, my first words go straight to @pele. There’s no player in the World who hasn’t been raised listening to stories about his games, his goals and his achievements, and I’m no exception.
“And for that reason, I’m filled with joy and pride as I acknowledge the goal that put’s me on top of the World’s goalscoring list, overcoming Pele’s record, something that I could never have dreamed of while growing up as a child from Madeira.
“Thanks to all of those who took part of this amazing journey with me. To my team-mates, to my opponents, to the fans of the beautiful game all over the World and, above all, to my family and close friends: trust me when I say that I couldn’t have done it without you.

Believe me, this story is still far from being over
Cristiano Ronaldo

“Now I can’t wait for the next games and challenges! The next records and trophies! Believe me, this story is still far from being over. The future is tomorrow and there’s still a lot to win for Juventus and Portugal!
“Join me in this journey! Let’s go!”
After his third effort against Cagliari, Ronaldo pointed to his ear in defiance, after facing a week of criticism following the Old Lady’s Champions League exit at the hands of Porto.
He grabbed the first after just 10 minutes, launching a trademark leap to convert a free header from Juan Cuadrado’s out-swinging corner.
And it was 2-0 around 15 minutes later, when he coolly netted from the penalty spot.

That’s a first half HAT-TRICK for Cristiano Ronaldo! 🎩Looks like he’s heard the criticism since Juve’s shock Champions League exit 👂 pic.twitter.com/oMvvnmtLki
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) March 14, 2021

Ronaldo then wasted little time grabbing the match ball.
Federico Chiesa brilliantly launched Juve downfield on the counter-attack.
And at the end of his lung-busting run, the 23-year-old calmly found Ronaldo on the right side of the penalty area.
The former Real Madrid star chopped onto his left-foot, before rifling the ball past the helpless Alessio Cragno.
The 3-1 win sees Juve go back to within ten points of league leaders Inter Milan with a game in hand, after Antonio Conte’s side beat Juve’s city rivals Torino 2-1 earlier on Sunday.
Despite having beaten Pele’s record, Ronaldo remains behind Czech striker Igor Bican, who Fifa claim scored 805 career goals in the 1940s and 50s.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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CRISTIANO RONALDO sent a cheeky message to his doubters as he crashed in a first-half hat-trick against Cagliari.
The Juventus superstar has copped a lot of flak this week, on the back of his side’s disappointing Champions League exit to Porto.

That’s a first half HAT-TRICK for Cristiano Ronaldo! 🎩Looks like he’s heard the criticism since Juve’s shock Champions League exit 👂 pic.twitter.com/oMvvnmtLki
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) March 14, 2021

Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, celebrates a stunning hat-trick as Juventus won 3-1Credit: AP:Associated Press

CR7 smashes home his third of the afternoon against CagliariCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Reports have since surfaced that the Italian giants are even willing to cash in on the five-time Ballon d’Or winner for just £25million.
But in response, the 36-year-old smashed in a hat-trick by the 32nd minute of the trip to Cagliari.
He grabbed the first after just 10 minutes, launching a trademark leap to convert a free header from Juan Cuadrado’s out-swinging corner.
And it was 2-0 15 minutes later, when he coolly netted from the penalty spot.

Ronaldo then wasted little time grabbing the match ball.
Federico Chiesa brilliantly launched Juve downfield on the counter-attack.
And at the end of his lung-busting run, the 23-year-old calmly found Ronaldo on the right side of the penalty area.
The former Real Madrid star chopped onto his left-foot, before rifling the ball past the helpless Alessio Cragno.

Cristiano Ronaldo powers in a header from the corner! 💥A trademark leap and an emphatic finish to give Juve the lead ⚫⚪ pic.twitter.com/kzC8CXV5rX
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) March 14, 2021

Juventus’ No7 nods home Juan Cuadrado’s corner for his firstCredit: Getty Images – Getty

In celebrating the goal, CR7 ran to a camera on the touchline, before pointing to his ear in defiance.
Giovanni Simeone did manage to pull a goal back for the home side just after the hour mark.
But Juve held out to secure a big three points for Andrea Pirlo’s men.
The result sees them go back to within ten points of league leaders Inter Milan with a game in hand, after Antonio Conte’s side beat Juve’s city rivals Torino 2-1.

Ronaldo, 36, converts from the spotCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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LAUTARO MARTINEZ scored a brilliant late header to fire Inter Milan one step closer to the Serie A title.
The Argentine, who was tracked by Barcelona last summer, was picked out by Alexis Sanchez in the box to settle a tightly-fought contest in the 85th minute.

Lautaro Martinez brilliantly headed home Inter Milan’s winnerCredit: EPA

Romelu Lukaku broke the deadlock on the hour mark from 12-yards when Martinez was fouled in the box.
Armando Izzo clumsily went through the back of the striker leaving the referee with no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
With boss Antonio Conte watching from the stands while serving a touchline ban, Lukaku made no mistake – drilling the ball into the bottom corner to bag his 19th league goal of the season.
But the visitors were pegged back just seven minutes later.

Inter failed to deal with a corner from the right before Antonio Sanabria stabbed home the loose ball.
The point could have proved crucial for Torino as they sit three points adrift of safety.
And it appeared to be heading that way until Martinez superbly proved his worth.
His goal sparked wild celebrations, with Inter knowing they are on the brink of ending Juventus’ dominance in the league.

Antonio Conte was watching from the stands as he serves a touchline banCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The Argentine’s excellent header handed Inter Milan all three pointsCredit: EPA

Romelu Lukaku fired the visitors ahead from the spot on the hourCredit: EPA

The victory leaves Inter Milan nine points clear of rivals AC who can close the gap with a win over Napoli.
Juventus, who sit in third, have won the title in the last nine-consecutive seasons while Inter’s last triumph came in the Treble-winning 2009-10 campaign when Jose Mourinho was in charge.
Victory also meant Inter are now 10 games without defeat having won their last eight consecutive matches.

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