Maurizio Sarri was pleased with Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala’s performances after starting together for the first time this season for Juventus.
With Gonzalo Higuain rested, Sarri gave Dybala the nod to start alongside the returning Ronaldo for Juventus’ Serie A clash with SPAL on Saturday afternoon.
Despite their struggles last season, the duo did well together in Turin with only SPAL keeper Etrit Berisha standing in their way. The Albanian was in superb form, and kept the visitors in the game even while Juventus dominated.
But Miralem Pjanic’s stunning half-volley from outside the area gave Juventus a deserved lead just moments before the break.
Dybala’s pin-point cross then enabled Ronaldo to head in a second goal 12 minutes from time. It capped off an impressive return for the 34-year-old, who could’ve scored more goals had it not been for Berisha’s brilliance.
And Sarri is clearly loving the attacking options he’s got at his disposal.
“Dybala gives us quality and more solutions going forward,” the Bianconeri boss told Sky Sport Italia.
“Cristiano Ronaldo was lively today and created four or five scoring opportunities, while Higuain has been doing well this season.
“It’s good to have three forwards where any combination you choose, you can’t really go wrong.”
Pjanic, meanwhile, continues to improve under Sarri’s brand of football and ended up making 124 passes. So, the midfielder is getting ever closer to his target of 150 passes per game.
“I told him he needs another 25 to meet the promise!” added Sarri.
“Pjanic is improving a great deal in the number of touches and the vertical passes he is coming out with.”
As for the match itself, Sarri said: “We had a few difficulties finding the right tempo in the opening stages, especially as SPAL were so clammed up.
“It wasn’t the tempo of the players as the ball, we moved the ball too slowly and there wasn’t enough movement off the ball.
“It was better in the second half, we created many chances and conceded very few.”
Dybala also gave his views on Juventus’ latest win, where he credited Pjanic’s goal as the turning point of the game.
