With inputs from the Associated Press

After Juventus sent shock waves around the footballing when they fielded a Cristiano Ronaldo-less starting lineup, the Turin club were held for a 2-2 draw against Udinese in their Serie A 2021/22 season opener on Sunday. 

The Bianconeri, after adding two quickfire goals — from Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado — early on in the first half, looked on their way to register a comfortable victory. However, coming out after the break, Udinese put on a resilient fight as Roberto Pereyra tucked home a neat penalty and at the 83rd-minute mark Gerard Deulofeu fired home the equaliser. 

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There’s been a lot of rumours brewing up around Ronaldo and his future at the Italian club. While reports suggest the Portuguese talisman is looking for options elsewhere, Juventus have shown great confidence in suggesting that Ronaldo’s immediate future lies at the club itself.

Hence, when manager Massimiliano Allegri started with Ronaldo on the bench speculations spread like wildfire. 

Coming to the game, Juan Cuadrado and Rodrigo Bentancur combined before the latter pulled the ball back for Dybala to drill across into the bottom left corner and give Juventus a third-minute lead.

Dybala turned provider 20 minutes later with a brilliant cross-field pass to Cuadrado, who skipped past a couple of defenders before shooting into the far bottom corner.

Udinese got back into the match six minutes into the second half. Szczęsny could only parry Tolgay Arslan’s effort and then brought down the Udinese midfielder as they both went for the rebound.

Roberto Pereyra struck the penalty into the bottom right corner.

Juventus almost restored its two-goal lead immediately but Álvaro Morata’s header came off the left post.

Ronaldo was brought on at the hour mark and went close to having an immediate impact as first he headed a free-kick inches wide and then he set up Bentancur, whose effort smacked off the right post.

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Instead, it was Udinese who scored as Szczęsny failed to deal with a simple-looking back pass from Leonardo Bonucci and Stefano Okaka stole the ball off him and set up Deulofeu.

The goal was initially ruled out but was given on video review. VAR was again to hurt Juventus deep into stoppage time as Ronaldo was seen to be offside when he headed in Federico Chiesa’s cross.