When Juventus paid Napoli over $100 million for Gonzalo Higuain in 2016, the belief was that the Argentine’s goals would fire the club to a continental title. However, after two seasons in the Champions League with a return of five goals in each campaign, Higuain was offloaded to AC Milan for about half the price this past summer.
Juve then turned to five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo for the goods. Ronaldo, of course, hasn’t hit less than 10 goals in a single UCL campaign since the 2010-11 season. You can tell what Juventus is trying to achieve with the 33-year-old.
Today, Higuain’s Milan welcomed Ronaldo’s Juventus to the San Siro for a grudge match of sorts, and it was the table-topping club that escaped with a 2-0 victory over the side in fifth.
Mario Mandzukic gave Juve the lead in the eighth minute, but it was all about Higuian-Ronaldo after that.
Goal! Mandzukic heads it in! 1-0!#Juve #Juventus #ForzaJuve #MilanJuve #Milan #Mandzukic pic.twitter.com/M5REL8DAB1
— JuveGIFs (@JuveGIFs) November 11, 2018
In the 40th minute, Milan had a glorious chance to equalize after a VAR-aided decision sent Higuain to the spot. However, his attempt was saved onto the post by Wojciech Szczesny, who’d been given a bit of advice from Ronaldo before the shot.
Higuain misses the penalty against his former club!!!#Juve #Juventus #ForzaJuve #MilanJuve #Milan #Higuain pic.twitter.com/efsX8CVy2v
— JuveGIFs (@JuveGIFs) November 11, 2018
In the 81st minute, Ronaldo doubled Juve’s advantage off a rebound. It’s his eighth Serie A goal in 12 matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo Always in the right place at the right timepic.twitter.com/THh7PO7MK6
— R3ed Alrashid (@R3ed_0) November 11, 2018
Finally, Higuain was booked in the 83rd minute and then immediately given a second yellow for dissent after screaming in the ref’s face. Nice one.
The Higuain incidentpic.twitter.com/QZZsrDYIkv
— Web Designer (@WebDesignerVoN) November 11, 2018
The Argentine has five goals in 10 appearances for Milan.