Cristiano Ronaldo started his new year off in style by netting a hat trick in Juventus’s 4-0 rout of Cagliari on Monday.
Ronaldo’s latest three-goal showing was the 56th hat trick for club and country of his goal-filled career, but it was his first in Serie A play. He previously scored a hat trick for Juventus in the Champions League, helping the club topple Atletico Madrid last season. He now has 13 league goals on the season.
Ronaldo accomplished everything in a 33-minute stretch after halftime, opening the scoring in the 49th minute by pouncing on a poor giveaway, rounding the goalkeeper and firing into an empty net.
He scored his second in the 67th minute from the penalty spot, and after assisting Gonzalo Higuain’s goal in the 81st minute, Ronaldo polished off his hat trick a minute later to cap the scoring.
The win sent Juventus provisionally to the top of the Serie A table, though Inter Milan went back in front on goal-differential after 3-1 a win at Napoli later on Monday.
“I’m happy with this first hat-trick. But the important thing is the team, which played very well,” said Ronaldo.
“We had to win to go ahead and put Inter under pressure.” – Sports Illustrated
