Ronaldo leads the way for Juventus

MILAN (AP):

Juventus missed Mario Mandzukic and Giorgio Chiellini. They got by with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo scored twice as Juventus came from behind to win at relegation-threatened Empoli 2-1 yesterday and maintain their unbeaten start in Serie A.

His first was a perfectly placed penalty, and his second was a magnificent 20-yard strike, which his coach, Massimiliano Allegri, called "a moment of magic".

"Those types of moves should be shown to kids in football academies rather than boring them with theory and tactics," Allegri said. "Tomorrow, so many of them will go out and try to imitate the feat of a superstar: By doing that they will certainly learn more than with abstract concepts."

Ronaldo has seven goals in 10 league matches and four in four since being accused of rape in the United States last month.

Following a midweek win at Manchester United in the Champions League, Mandzukic was out injured along with Emre Can and Sami Khedira. Juventus was dealt another blow when defender Chiellini limped out of the warm-up and was replaced in the starting line-up by Daniele Rugani.