CRISTIANO RONALDO scored his first 56th career ha-trick as Juventus smashed Cagliari 4-0.
Maurizio Sarri’s men leap three points ahead of Inter Milan in the title race, despite their rivals now having a game in hand and four-goal difference over them.
Ronaldo started his 2020 with a bang, scoring four minutes after half-time.
The Portugal skipper, who started the game up front with Paulo Dybala, was quick to react following a poor pass from defender Ragnar Klavan before rounding keeper Robin Olsen and opening the scoring.
The visitror’s almost equalised on the hour mark as Nahitan Nandez produced an excellent cross for Giovanni Simeone at the backpost but the striker’s header bounced off the crossbar.
Juve reacted fast from the wake up call and an inspired Dybala went on a searching run, beating three defenders before being taken down by midfielder Marko Rog in the Cagliari box.
It offered Ronaldo the chance to grab his second, which he did with ease as his side-footed penalty in the bottom right corner sent Olsen the wrong way.
Former Chelsea loanee Gonazlo Higuain, who is enjoying life back in Italy with five league goals in 11 starts this season, replaced Dybala on 70 minutes.
The Argentine was quickly involved as his solo run from the left wing resulted in Juve’s third as Higuain cut in and drilled past Olsen.
With Cagliari well and truly beaten Ronaldo was seeking his first hat-trick in black and white in the Serie A.
As the ball come in from the right, the 34-year-old took it down and smashed under the keeper, capping off a dominant performance by Italian champions and their No7.
Inter have their time respond tonight as they travel to eighth placed Napoli.
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