Cristiano yet to score for Italian champions since switch from Real

Cristiano Ronaldo has not scored for Juventus in the Serie A [Courtesy]

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a chance to score his first Serie A goal for Juventus but the Italian champions kept their winning momentum 2-1 at promoted Parma on Saturday with goals in either half from World Cup stars Mario Mandzukic and Blaise Matuidi.

World Cup winner Matuidi bagged the decisive goal on 58 minutes after Croatia’s Mandzukic, a finalist in Moscow this summer, had scored after just two minutes in Emilia Romagna.

New Parma signing Gervinho — back in Italy after two years with Chinese club Hebei China Fortune — pulled one back after 33 minutes for the hosts who have returned to the top flight after three consecutive promotions following demotions for bankruptcy.

Ronaldo is yet to score but the seven-time reigning Italian champions are on maximum points after winning all three of their games this season.

The 33-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner missed a chance to open his account after 26 minutes when his powerful header was just wide, and spurned another chance ten minutes into the second half.

“Cristiano had a good game, he made himself available, but it was a moment when the ball did not bounce back in the right direction,” coach Massimiliano Allegri said. “I’m happy with what he’s doing.”

Earlier Radja Nainggolan scored on his debut as Inter Milan claimed their first three points of the Serie A season with a 3-0 win in Bologna.

Nainggolan missed the first two games of the campaign with injury following his summer move from Roma.

But the 30-year-old Belgian midfielder made his mark on his league debut, opening his and Inter’s account at the Stadio Dall’Ara after 66 minutes.

Italy midfielder Antonio Candreva and Croatia’s World Cup runner-up Ivan Perisic added two quickfire goals in the final ten minutes.

The win gives Luciano Spalletti’s side four points from three games, equal on points with Roma who lost 2-1 at AC Milan on Friday. Filippo Inzaghi’s Bologna are stuck on one point, without a single goal scored in three games.

“There were three beautiful goals and the team shook off the tension after the opener,” said Spalletti.

“We should have been a little more inventive, creative and had more quality to pick the lock earlier. But as we went on we wore them down.

“Some of our players need to find their fitness levels, as you need quality and names to win, but also hard work and sweat on the pitch.”