Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with teammate Gonzalo Higuain, left, after scoring during an Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Cagliari
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick and set up the other goal for Gonzalo Higuain as Juventus eased past Cagliari 4-0.
Juventus moved three points clear at the top of the league, ahead of Inter Milan’s match at Napoli later.
Ronaldo ended 2019 on a scoring streak and he started where he left off, becoming the first player to score at least one goal in one of Europe's top-five leagues in each of the last 18 years (2003-20). Real Betis midfielder Joaquín and Werder Bremen’s Claudio Pizarro are the only active players who can achieve this.
There was little sign of what was to come in the first half but Ronaldo broke the deadlock four minutes after the break, rounding the goalkeeper and depositing into an empty net.
The Portugal international doubled Juve’s lead in the 67th and set up Higuain nine minutes from time before completing his hat trick a minute later.
Ronaldo took his tally to eight goals in his past five league matches and 13 for the season.
OTHER MATCHES
Atalanta emulated its last result before the winter break with a 5-0 win over Parma.
It was already 3-0 by halftime thanks to goals from Alejandro “Papu” Gomez, Remo Freuler and Robin Gosens. Josip Ilicic added two after the restart.
Atalanta moved to within one point of fourth-placed Roma and the final Champions League spot.
Elsewhere, Giuseppe Iachini’s debut as Fiorentina coach was ruined by a stoppage-time equalizer from Bologna in a 1-1 draw.
