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As it happenedended

Cristiano Ronaldo sends Juventus nine points clear at the top of Serie A

Relive all the action from the Serie A fixture at the Allianz Stadium

Kishan Vaghela
Saturday 24 November 2018 13:04 EST
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Juve will be looking for another win in Serie A
Juve will be looking for another win in Serie A (AP)

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Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opening goal and helped set up the second as Juventus extended their unbeaten start in Serie A with a 2-0 win over promoted SPAL on Saturday.

Ronaldo's latest goal was his ninth in Serie A, matching Genoa's Krzysztof Piatek in the race for the golden boot.

The goal came near the half-hour mark when Ronaldo beat everyone to redirect in a free kick from Miralem Pjanic.

In the 60th, Ronaldo's pull back on the counterattack set up a shot for Douglas Costa, whose effort was swatted into the path of Mario Mandzukic who scored from the rebound.

Juventus moved nine points ahead of second-place Napoli, who host Chievo Verona on Sunday.

AP

What time does it start?

Juventus vs SPAL kicks off at 5pm (BST)

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Eleven Sports 2 from 4:50pm.

Fans can also watch the match on Eleven Sports through iOS mobile and tablet apps as well as on Android mobiles.

Highlights will be shown at 3:30am on Eleven Sports 2.

Player to watch…

Cristiano Ronaldo: The 33-year-old has not played for Portugal since they were knocked out at the last 16 stage of the World Cup by Uruguay, but he has been a regular figure in the Juventus side this season. From 12 appearances, the former Real Madrid man has scored eight goals and registered five assists, including a first goal at the San Siro in the 2-0 win over AC Milan last time out. With tough fixtures against Inter Milan and Roma coming up, the Old Lady will require Ronaldo to keep his goalscoring form up against SPAL.

Form guide…

Juventus: DWWWLW

SPAL: LLWLLD

Odds…

Juventus to win: 1/8

SPAL to win: 19/1

Draw: 13/2

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

Prediction...

Juventus 3-0 SPAL: Home win without too much fuss, you'd think.

5 min: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

Fairly even start at the Wanda. While Barcelona have seen more of the ball, Griezmann has dropped back to really crowd the midfield when the Catalans are in possession. 

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 19:53

10 min: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

Atletico have lost the fewest amount of matches of any La Liga side this season, and they show why as they have so far managed to frustrate the likes of Messi and Arturo Vidal who have seen plenty of the ball so far. 

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 19:58

15 min: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

Huge tactical battle ongoing at the Wanda. Barcelona are being invited to come forward but Atleti have not been troubled by what the Catalans have had to offer so far.

Griezmann and Costa have seen little of the ball so far though for the hosts.

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 20:03

20 min: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

Messi has 26 goals in 18 games against Atletico Madrid, and he is starting to weave his magic down the right-hand side here. His corner is eventually fed to Sergi Roberto, but the Spaniard's cross is poor and Oblak claims easily. 

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 20:09

25 min: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

It's been a rather passive half of football so far and Atletico Madrid's approach so far is bordering on negativity very rarely seen under Diego Simeone.

It's been so tepid that the ever-reliable Koke overhits his pass to spread the play to Santiago Arias.

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 20:13

29 min: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

It is his 500th appearance in a Barcelona shirt tonight, but I don't think this is quite his 500th yellow card (just yet anyway).

But Sergio Busquets does go into the book, despite trying to pull away in a challenge with Lucas Hernandez.

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 20:17

36 min: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

Ten minutes until half-time and goalmouth action has been extremely limited, to say the least.

Barcelona are the side to have inflicted the most defeats on Diego Simeone's Atletico and a more conservative approach from the hosts is therefore expected. 

But they have been slow in possession and have not exploited a at times weak Barcelona defence, who have welcomed Samuel Umtiti back at centre-back this evening following injury. 

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 20:24

40 min: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

Lucas Hernandez turns from victim to perpetrator. He gets the ball when challenging with Messi after Oblak's poor clearance, but the referee books the Frenchman nonetheless. 

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 20:27

It may be an evening to forget so far for both sides, but Sergio Busquets will remember it for a long time to come. 

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 20:29

42 min: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona

That's a real collector's item, as Messi blazes over a free-kick from the right. No attempt on goal yet with the Argentine, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa all on the pitch. 

It's nearly an embarrassing moment at the other end of the pitch, but ter Stegen claims his miscued clearance.

Kishan Vaghela24 November 2018 20:30

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