Cristiano Ronaldo Helps Set Up Winning Goal as Juventus Beat Inter Milan 2-1

Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus inflicted a first defeat of the season on Inter Milan in Serie A after leaving the San Siro Stadium with a 2-1 win on Sunday.

Ronaldo was heavily involved in the winning goal, combining with Rodrigo Bentancur to setup substitute Gonzalo Higuain for an 80th-minute winner after Lautaro Martinez had scored from the penalty spot to answer Paulo Dybala's opener for the visitors.

The result has sent the Bianconeri to the top of the table and ruined Inter boss Antonio Conte's first match against his former club.

Juve's positive lineup, featuring Ronaldo and Dybala up top with Federico Bernardeschi positioned behind, was rewarded with an early goal when Dybala converted a low shot in the fourth minute.

The finish emboldened the visitors, who poured forward in numbers, moving the ball imaginatively and at pace. Ronaldo went close on nine minutes when he drifted in from the left and crashed a shot off the bar.

Inter were showing signs of nerves, but a mistake at the back helped them get back into the game. Matthijs de Ligt was flagged for handball, and the video assistant referee confirmed the infraction along with the award of a penalty to Martinez.

The Argentinian made no mistake from the spot to continue a prolific recent run. Signed from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has been gaining admirers for his all-action displays:

It also helped that his strike partner, Romelu Lukaku, was in the mood. The Belgian has been revitalised since arriving from Manchester United in the summer, and Inter's new No. 9 was causing De Ligt a host of problems:

As well as Inter were playing up top, Juve maintained their own considerable threat in the final third. Ronaldo thought he had given the Bianconeri back the lead three minutes before the break, only for Dybala to be flagged offside in the buildup.

The let-off should have been a warning to Inter, but the visitors still had the initiative after the restart, with Bernardeschi and Ronaldo both going close. Pressure was mounting on the Inter defence, so Diego Godin going off with an injury came at a poor time for Conte's men.

Juventus should have exploited the undermanned back line when Dybala broke through. However, Samir Handanovic made an excellent save.

Perhaps sensing the time was ripe to strike, Juve boss Maurizio Sarri brought on Gonzalo Higuain for Bernardeschi, adding the centre-forward's power and finishing quality alongside Ronaldo and Dybala.

Inter tried to counter through Lukaku, but De Ligt was starting to cope with his pace and power. Lukaku tested himself against Leonardo Bonucci and was nearly rewarded with a spot-kick:

Marcelo Brozovic looked to press Inter's advantage home, but the midfielder could only clip the outside of the post from distance. It proved a key moment because Higuain pounced for the winner to give Juve the lead 10 minutes from time.

The goal was the result of a slick move with Ronaldo as the creative hub. Miralem Pjanic played Ronaldo in behind, and the prolific No. 7 picked out Bentancur to teed up Higuain, who left Handanovic with no chance.

Fallow loan spells with AC Milan and Chelsea are now distant memories for a striker returning to his best since reuniting with Maurizio Sarri.

Matias Vecino should have netted Inter's second equaliser in the penultimate minute, but Wojciech Szczesny preserved Juve's win with a terrific reflex save.

Juventus did enough to pass their toughest challenge yet. More match-winners in attacking areas proved the difference, with Inter denied the chance to call on the services of the suspended Alexis Sanchez.

What's Next?

Juve will host Bologna on October 19, while Inter have a trip to Sassuolo the next day.