Federico Chiesa and Aaron Ramsey were on target as Juventus sealed a 2-0 Serie A win over Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday.
Italy international Chiesa put Andrea Pirlo s side on their way midway through the first half with his sixth top-flight goal of the season, while Cristiano Ronaldo missed opportunities to extend their advantage.
Fabio Quagliarella twice went close for Claudio Ranieri s side after the break, but Juve wrapped up a third consecutive win over Sampdoria without conceding a goal when Ramsey scored in stoppage time.
The result means Juve leapfrog Roma into third seven points behind leaders Milan although Paulo Fonseca s side will usurp them if they beat Hellas Verona on Sunday.
FT | | THREE MORE BIG POINTS!!!
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)
After a sluggish start, Juve went ahead with their first shot on target in the 20th minute.
Ronaldo fed Alvaro Morata down the right and the Spain international s low cross was tucked away by Chiesa from six yards.
Ronaldo twice came close to extending Juve s lead before the interval, but Emil Audero tipped over his fierce long-range strike and the Portuguese superstar later missed the target after rounding the Sampdoria goalkeeper.
The hosts, who failed to register a shot on target in the first half, improved after the break, with only a superb block from Giorgio Chiellini denying Quagliarella an equaliser.
Wojciech Szczesny thwarted the veteran striker from a tight angle soon after as Sampdoria threatened to draw level.
That threat soon disappeared, though, and substitute Ramsey made sure of a vital three points when he slid home from Juan Cuadrado s pass following a swift counter-attack.
What does it mean? Juve stay in touch with Milan
Milan s win earlier in the day cranked the pressure up on Pirlo s reigning champions and they duly responded.
Defeat in Genoa would have seen them fall 10 points behind the Rossoneri, but Chiesa and Ramsey s goals were enough to secure back-to-back Serie A wins and ensure the gap remains at seven.
Sampdoria improved in the second half, but the visitors backline marshalled superbly by Chiellini largely kept them at arm s length.
Chiesa shines for Bianconeri
Chiesa has impressed since his initial loan move from Fiorentina and he was once again Juve s brightest spark. He scored with one of his two shots, while he created three scoring opportunities for his team-mates the most of any player on the pitch.
Ronaldo s lean streak continues
He had five shots, but Ronaldo was unable to find the back of the net for a third Serie A game in a row. It marks the first time he has done that in a single season since April 2019.
Key Opta Facts:
Cristiano Ronaldo has not scored in three consecutive league games in a single season for his first time since April 2019.
Aaron Ramsey played his 300th game in the Top-5 European leagues – 38 of these with Juventus.
Giorgio Chiellini has equalled Giuseppe Furino as the player with the fifth-most Serie A appearances for Juventus (361).
Juan Cuadrado has delivered five Serie A assists current season, as many as he had last term, playing 18 fewer games.
What s next?
Juve face Inter in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Tuesday, while Sampdoria are next in action at Benevento next Sunday.
