Cristiano Ronaldo enjoys another night to remember as Juventus draw with Inter

Posted Sunday, April 28, 2019 by PA

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 600th goal in all club competitions earned Serie A champions Juventus a 1-1 draw at the San Siro against Inter Milan.

Juventus, who confirmed an eighth consecutive league title with victory against Fiorentina last weekend, fell behind early on to a superb volley from Radja Nainggolan.

Massimiliano Allegri’s team responded just after the hour mark when Ronaldo reached his personal landmark with a strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Gol ⚽️ speciale: è il numero 600 per @Cristiano in tutte le competizioni a livello di club! #Cristiano600 #InterJuve pic.twitter.com/kdBvquDvCZ
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) April 27, 2019

Both sides had chances to win it but goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny and Samir Handanovic were in good form and the points were shared.

Inter, who remain third in the table, took the lead after seven minutes through a wonderful strike by Nainggolan.

Juventus failed to clear a corner and Matteo Politano scooped the ball over to his right for Nainggolan who unleashed an unbelievable volley from 30 yards out which flew into the top corner of the net, with Szczesny getting a touch on the shot but unable to keep it out.

The Juventus goalkeeper was able to make stops soon afterwards with saves to deny Mauro Icardi down by his near post and Stefan De Vrij from close range.

Cristiano Ronaldo enjoys another night to remember as Juventus draw with Inter — Radja Nainggolan celebrates (Antonio Calanni/AP)

The champions had offered little as an attacking threat with speculative punts from long range from defenders Leanardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, before Federico Bernardeschi followed their lead in putting the ball over the crossbar and into the stands.

A brave block by Blaise Matuidi kept Juventus in the game after half an hour as Icardi’s shot was stopped just in front of the goal line.

Ronaldo worried Handanovic for the first time when his rising shot from 20 yards grazed the crossbar.

Ivan Perisic sent a shot skidding narrowly wide early in the second half before Juventus’ first real spell of sustained pressure in the match brought an equalising goal.

Juan Cuadrado curled an effort just past the top corner of the net and Handanovic got down well to keep out a Ronaldo header.

But it would not be long before the Portuguese got his name on the score sheet. A neat exchange of passes with Miralem Pjanic created space on the edge of the area and Ronaldo scored with a low shot into the bottom corner.

Inter managed to regroup and Perisic forced Szczesny into the good block by his near post midway through the second half.

At the other end, Handanovic did well to beat away a sweetly-struck volley from Pjanic before Szczesny was called into action again, this time to turn behind a shot from substitute Joao Mario.

Juventus enjoyed a late spell of pressure but were unable to find a winning goal as Inter held firm. However, a third straight home draw left Luciano Spalletti’s side without a win at the San Siro in five outings since March 10.