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Cristiano Ronaldo’s Serie A debut for Juventus ended in a thrilling 3-2 victory at Chievo, thanks to a stoppage-time goal from substitute Federico Bernardeschi.
All eyes were on the Portugal forward following his 100 million euro ($A156 million) summer transfer from Real Madrid – but it needed a team effort from the defending champions to secure three points in Verona.
The visitors opened their quest for an eighth straight Italian title with a slow start after Ronaldo was thwarted several times by veteran Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino and his handball in the build-up led to a late Juventus goal being disallowed.
Sami Khedira put Juventus ahead after three minutes but the visitors were stunned when Mariusz Stepinski levelled seven minutes before the break.
Emanuele Giaccherini converted a penalty against his former club to give Chievo a shock lead in the 56th minute, only for Chievo’s Mattia Bani, under pressure from Leonardo Bonucci, to deflect a corner into his own net in the 75th minute.
Juventus had a goal disallowed for handball by Ronaldo but, in the next attack, Federico Bernardeschi turned the ball in to give the champions a winning start.
“He moved well at times but he wasn’t picked out by his teammates,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “He’s a different footballer, you can see that. He’s integrated into the team with ease.”
Lazio and Napoli meet in Rome in Saturday’s late game.
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