Cristiano Ronaldo confronted by fan on the pitch during win over Sassuolo as the Portuguese scores to help Juventus end three-game winless run

• Pitch invader displayed Cristiano Ronaldo’s trademark celebration in front of him
• Incident occurred in Juventus’ 3-0 win at Sassuolo to keep unbeaten Serie A run 
• Ronaldo scored one goal and assisted another as Juve go 11 points clear at top 

By

Sportsmail Reporter

Published:
19:49 EST, 10 February 2019

|
Updated:
19:53 EST, 10 February 2019

Cristiano Ronaldo came face-to-face with a fan during Juventus‘ 3-0 victory at Sassuolo on Sunday, with the pitch invader performing the Portuguese’s iconic goal celebration in front of him.

During the second-half of the match, a topless supporter sprinted clear of stadium stewards and reached the striker, who watched his celebration re-enacted.

Ronaldo offered the man a friendly pat on the face before security caught up with him and escorted him from the pitch. 

A pitch invader races onto the pitch and performs Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal celebration

The man is given a pat on the face by the Portuguese striker as he stands still on the pitch

The fan sported a close-cropped blonde haircut with a bandana around his neck and jumper tied on his waist as he sprinted across the pitch. 

That was a small interlude in an eventful game for Ronaldo, whose spilled shot allowed Sami Khedira to turn home the opening goal after 23 minutes.

Ronaldo would get on the scoresheet himself with a header from Miralem Pjanic’s corner next.

Emre Can came off the bench to grab the final goal in the second half as Juventus moved 11 points clear of second-placed Napoli.

Security staff catch up with the man and carry him off the field during Juventus’ 3-0 victory

The Portuguese headed the second goal in a win that ensured Juventus are unbeaten in Serie A

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Warren Gatland out to turn up the heat on England ahead of potential Six Nations Championship decider

• Wales beat Italy at the Stadio Olympico to maintain their long unbeaten streak 
• England and Wales could meet in a potential decider for Six Nations in Cardiff
• However, Wales have underwhelmed in both wins against Italy and France 

By

Will Kelleher For The Daily Mail

Published:
18:44 EST, 10 February 2019

|
Updated:
19:53 EST, 10 February 2019

Warren Gatland wants Wales to lure England into a false sense of security before a potential Six Nations Championship decider in Cardiff at the end of the month.

The Welsh have not lost in nearly a year now, and ticked off their 11th consecutive win in Rome to equal the national record that has stood for 109 years.

But a shocking first-half in Paris and a disjointed 80 against Italy, despite winning two from two like England, Wales have underwhelmed.

Josh Adams scores the first try in Wales 26-15 win over Italy in Rome on Saturday

However knowing they must improve so keen is Gatland to pile the pressure on Eddie Jones, that he is hoping their lack of fluency so far means Wales are written off for the Principality Stadium clash.

‘We have probably helped ourselves a little bit by not playing as well as we could have and as a result everyone will start talking England up,’ he said, helping with that by heaping praise on England.

‘Sometimes that’s easier to help motivate yourself if that does happen.’ ‘I thought the England performance against Ireland was the best I have seen from an England team in the last five years. Tactically they were outstanding.’ 

All said with a twinkle in the eye, Gatland knows what awaits England in the Welsh capital will be like nothing they have faced so far.

Warren Gatland wants to lure England into a false sense of security before they meet in Cardiff

And with a long build-up to that massive match he is sure Wales will be ready.

‘Everyone before the start of the tournament thought that the decider might come down to that last game with Ireland,’ he added.

‘But obviously now there are just two of us still in the chance for a Grand Slam and the Triple Crown, so there will be no lack of motivation.

‘It will be electric in the Principality Stadium, and it gives us a chance to be at home. Once you are on a run like this you don’t want it to go.

‘The nice thing is we have two weeks together in the build-up to the England match, and we are excited about it.

‘We have a few things to work on, which is always pleasing – and a couple of really tough weeks of training.’ 

Wales maintained their long unbeaten streak despite a disjointed performance against Italy

Precious few Rome new-boys pressed a serious claim to start the England game. Thomas Young went well on Championship debut, but is unlikely to win a back-row slot ahead of Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty and Josh Navidi.

The latter talked up the Welsh flanking stocks – their stable of sevens in stark contrast to England.

‘We’re breeding back-rowers at the moment,’ said Navidi.

‘We could be in England’s position where they are looking for a seven. We have a number coming through in Wales.’ 

Otherwise Six Nations starting debutant Aled Davies was ponderous, and will surely be replaced by the nippier Gareth Davies, and Leicester’s Jonah Holmes – by his own admission – would have been disappointed not to take his chance.

Dan Biggar did not grasp the No 10 shirt either, despite scoring 14 points. Owen Watkin, Josh Adams scored Wales’ tries with Angelo Esposito and Braam Steyn scoring for Italy.

England and Wales could meet in a potential decider for Six Nations Championship in Cardiff 

On making 10 changes Gatland said: ‘Look, if I had it over again you might question if it was the right thing to do to make so many changes but we have done that, got the win.

‘You question if you kept the same team and had a real convincing win, maybe the other question would be why didn’t you use more of the squad when you had the chance to?

‘Hindsight is a great thing. For us to get two victories and two away wins is an outstanding start. It was not a great performance today but it is a great start to the tournament.

‘Things are in our own hands, with two big home games to come.’ And lock Jake Ball knows Wales owe England one after the way they lost last year, with a Gareth Anscombe try controversially disallowed in a 12-6 Twickenham defeat.

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As another hectic weekend of Premier League action draws to a close, Sportsmail’s AMITAI WINEHOUSE takes a look back over the areas we are now slightly more wiser on…

1. Beware the wounded beast. Manchester City had a rough patch that seemed to allow Liverpool to create space in the title race.

Since those consecutive defeats against Crystal Palace and Leicester, City have won more games (7), scored more goals (23) and won more points (21) than any other Premier League side. The Chelsea win was the most impressive of the lot.

Sergio Aguero has been utterly key to that. He has eight league goals in 2019, double any other player in the Premier League. This has been him at his very best. The striker and City are not ready to let their title go to Anfield.

Sergio Aguero has been utterly key to Manchester City’s recently discovered purple patch

2. In the first three Premier League games of 2019, Chelsea conceded three goals. In the other three they have let in 10.

What happened in between? Well, Maurizio Sarri went on a rant about his players after losing at Arsenal. He dug in and started a war. And clearly, that has not worked. They have now conceded more league goals this year than any other team barring Fulham.

The six goals at City owed a lot to the opposition but, as evidenced by Bournemouth and now Sunday, when the ball starts hitting the back of the net, no one is fighting any more. It looks as though he has truly lost the dressing room.

3. Jose Mourinho must have had a stable of horses strapped to Paul Pogba to hold him back like he was. The Portuguese manager was at fault. Pogba, to little realistic surprise, is clearly world class.

The evidence now spans the World Cup, where he inspired France to the crown, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign. He has hit 35 per cent of his league goals for Manchester United – eight of 22 – in the nine games the Norwegian has managed.

Which just begs the question – what, exactly, was Mourinho doing? And is it too early to start talking about central midfielder Pogba, with eight goals in nine games, as a contender for individual honours this year?

The electric form of Paul Pogba is damning of Jose Mourinho and shows how he was held back

4. The biggest flaw to Arsene Wenger was the limited nature of his coaching. Many young players came into the Arsenal side and seemed worse after he had managed them for a few months.

Alex Iwobi was one of those. He had a bright initial impact but dipped off over subsequent seasons. Unai Emery is clearly having a positive impression though. Iwobi has now had a hand in 10 goals in all competitions, his best return.

Iwobi has stepped up another level this campaign. That can only be a plus to Arsenal when resources are so scarce.

5. There’s always a risk that Sadio Mane can go under the radar when the attacking colossus that is Mohamed Salah plays alongside him.

He has been absolutely dynamite this campaign though, and if Liverpool do go on to win the league, Mane will deserve every plaudit that comes his way.

He’s also found form at a brilliant time. Mane has scored in four consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time ever after his strike against Bournemouth. That broke the deadlock on what could have been a tense day.

Mane is the man as much as anyone else for Liverpool right now.

Often overlooked by fans and pundits, Sadio Mane proves why he is crucial for Jurgen Klopp

6. Tottenham struggled performance-wise against Leicester – but quality brought them through. Christian Eriksen epitomised that.

Where Leicester spurned close range chances, Eriksen seemingly ended the Foxes’ hopes with an effort from outside the box that was more difficult than the chances that the likes of Harvey Barnes did not convert.

It was his 20th strike from outside the box since his debut, more than any other player in that time. The Dane is dangerous – wherever he might be.

7. Christian Benteke has not become ruthless in front of goal in his injury absence. What he does give Crystal Palace, which has been missing for most of the season, is a platform on which Wilfried Zaha can play.

Zaha has had to do the hard work of playing as a striker for most of the season with Benteke out, which diminishes his opportunities in front of goal.

So it was no real shock to have seen him score his first home goal in 11 games against West Ham. He had six shots too. With Benteke back, Zaha now has the freedom he needs.

With the powerful Christian Benteke back for Crystal Palace, more space upfront is created

8. Burnley have woken up, shaken off the cobwebs and, a greasy sandwich later, are totally over their European hangover.

At one point this season it seemed as though Sean Dyche’s side would slip out of the top flight as form abandoned them. They have now gone seven games without defeat, their longest run in the top flight since February 1975.

Keep it up and they could be clear of danger sooner rather than later. Dyche-ball is ticking over nicely again.

9. Cardiff are among the fittest teams in the Premier League and that could be enough to see them over the line this season.

They conceded late against Southampton but had enough, both physically and mentally, to come back again and win the game. It was the third time they have won a match in added time this season, a league high.

It was also their first consecutive top flight win since 1962. It seems to be coming together at the right time for safety.

Cardiff are among the fittest teams in the league and that could be enough to keep them up

10. Marco Silva’s phases of Premier League success have generally come courtesy of a superb away record. A downturn in that is why he is now in a dangerous position at Everton.

Everton have lost seven of their last 11 Premier League away games, following a run of just one defeat in six on the road prior. That is not good enough from Silva’s side.

The damage has now been done at his old home, Vicarage Road, but the Portuguese manager needs a change in fortunes away from home. Otherwise he may find himself leaving another club sooner rather than later.