Juventus 2-0 AS Roma: 5 hits and flops as Cristiano Ronaldo inspires champions beyond the Giallorossi | Serie A 2020-21

Hit: Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

Chiellini was resolute in the defense

The veteran centre-back turned back the calendar with a colossal performance in defence, showing he still has it in his tank to deliver in the big games.

During the early exchanges, when Roma threatened to break forward many times, Chiellini stood tall, making some crucial blocks and braving some piece of skills too.

📊 | Chiellini stats vs Roma:• 98 Touches• 87.4%➖Passes completed•1/4 Aerial duels won• 1 Interceptions• 6 Clearancesⓒ𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤. 💪🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/Q3qYEfCXwV

— Nisrin (@NisrinJuve) February 6, 2021

He made six clearances in the match, at least twice more than anyone tonight, won four aerial duels, also second to none, and made 98 touches on the ball, another game-high.

The old Italian warhorse may not start regularly as he once did, but his importance to the side cannot be denied. This match was another exhibition of the same.

Flop: Borja Mayoral (AS Roma)

Mayoral went missing tonight

Mayoral's amazing run of late came to a juddering halt against Juventus, who expertly negated the in-form striker, never even allowing him sight of the goal, let alone score one.

With three goals and an assist from the last two games before tonight, the Spaniard unsurprisingly led the line ahead of Edin Dzeko, but came a cropper.

It's not all his fault, though, as Roma struggled to control the midfield, forcing the former Real Madrid forward to drop deep instead.

On other occasions, Juve's experienced centre-back duo of Bonucci and Chiellini, suffocated him for space, while saw two of his efforts blocked by Sandro and Rabiot.

A very frustrating evening for Mayoral, who'll be looking to score a goal or two in the next game against Udinese to regain his confidence.

Hit: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)

Ronaldo produced another deadly strike tonight, his 16th overall in the league this season!

Ronaldo turned 36 just over a day before this game, and tonight, he celebrated the same with a fantastic goal.

The peerless Juventus ace dragged a fiery low-drive beyond Pau Lopez just 13 minutes into the match, setting his side on their way towards another important win.

Unsatisfied with one goal, he kept knocking on Roma's door with relentless pressing, even rattling the crossbar and forcing Lopez into a diving save, during the first half.

🇵🇹Cristiano scores his 88th ⚽️ for Juventus. He also scores his 16th Serie A ⚽️ this season. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/i2tgRYvEpp

— PortugueseSoccer.com ⚽️ (@PsoccerCOM) February 6, 2021

His impact may have waned slightly after the interval, but the Portuguese was still threatening on the break and made some good runs from the flanks.

What's really astonishing is, even in the twilight of his career, Ronaldo continues to show exceptional desire, consistency, and professionalism.

Drink it all in while it lasts - we'll not see a player like him again.