ROME: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice, the second goal a contentious penalty, to give Juventus a 2-1 Serie A win over Sampdoria , who had a stoppage-time equaliser denied by VAR.

Riccardo Saponara thought he had earned Sampdoria a point when he shot past Mattia Perin but, after a delay of nearly three minutes, referee Paolo Valeri ruled there had been an offside in the buildup.

It was one of three VAR decisions in a game when Sampdoria’s 35-year-old forward Fabio Quagliarella scored for the ninth Serie A game in a row, the first player to do so since David Trezeguet in 2005.

Juve thus reached the season’s halfway mark with 53 points out of a possible 57, a Serie A record for a 20-team championship. They lead Napoli , who beat Bologna 3-2, by nine points. Third-placed Internazionale won 1-0 at Empoli and are on 39.

Ronaldo gave Juventus the lead after two minutes by collecting Paulo Dybala’s pass and cutting inside to score with a low shot. Quagliarella, formerly of Juve, levelled in the 33rd minute from a penalty awarded after the ball hit the back of Emre Can’s outstretched arm as he jumped for it.

Juve’s winner also came from a handball although the ball only brushed Ferrari’s arm. Valeri pointed to the spot but Ronaldo had to wait more than two minutes to take his kick while the incident was reviewed on the pitchside monitor. Ronaldo’s 14 goals makes him Serie A’s top scorer.

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