Ronaldo to the rescue

MILAN, December 26 

Cristiano Ronaldo saved Juventus’ unbeaten Serie A record this season when he came off the bench to score the equaliser in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Atalanta on Wednesday. Juve, who dropped their first away points of the season, were down to 10 men at one of Serie A’s toughest venues when Ronaldo nodded home from close range in the 78th minute.

The Turin side thought they had snatched a win when Leonardo Bonucci volleyed home from a free-kick in stoppage time but it was ruled out for offside. Juventus, with 16 wins and two draws from 18 games, have 50 points, nine ahead of Napoli.

Fabio makes it 8 in a row

Veteran Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella scored with a outrageous backheeled volley as he was on target for the eighth Serie A game in a row to set up a 2-0 win over Chievo. He became the first Italian player to score in eight successive league games since Christian Vieri for Inter Milan in 2002.

Milan fail to score again     

AC Milan’s push for a top-four finish took a hit as Gennaro Gattuso’s side were held 0-0 at struggling Frosinone. The seven-time European champions have now failed to score in four consecutive league games for the first time since 1984, managing three goalless stalemates in the process. — Agencies