Cristiano Ronaldo continues birthday celebrations with goal for Juventus in win over Roma

One day after turning 36, the Portuguese attacker helps team move up to third in Serie A with his 16th league strike of the season

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after Roma defender Roger Ibanez scored an own goal during Juventus' 2-0 Serie A win on February 6. AFP

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo is shown a yellow card by referee Daniele Orsato at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Reuters

Juventus defender Alex Sandro. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo after Roma's own goal. AFP

Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo. AFP

Juve's Cristiano Ronaldo during the match. Reuters

Juve's Danilo is challenged by Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Roma. Getty

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini battlles with Roma's Bryan Cristante. Reuters

Roma striker Edin Dzeko wins a header. EPA

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with teammates after Roma's Roger Ibanez scored an own goal. AP

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo takes on Roger Ibanez of Roma. AP

Cristiano Ronaldo is fouled by Roma's Gonzalo Villar. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his team's first goal. EPA

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo in action. Reuters

Juventus' Dejan Kulusevski and Maresh Kumbulla of Roma challenge for a header. EPA

Cristiano Ronaldo under pressure from Roma's Rick Karsdorp. Reuters

Juventus' Giorgio Chiellini with Roma manager Paulo Fonseca after the match. Reuters

Juve's Cristiano Ronaldo. EPA

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his birthday celebrations by scoring against Roma as Juventus moved up to third in Serie A courtesy of a 2-0 win.

One day after the evergreen attacker turned 36, Ronaldo put Juve ahead after 13 minutes with a low finish into the bottom corner from 13 yards to end a mini drought of three games without a goal.

It was his 16th league strike of the season – 23 in all competitions – that moved him two clear of Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku as Serie A top scorer.

Ronaldo, who scored a double in their midweek Coppa Italia semi-final first-leg win against Inter, nearly added a second 10 minutes later as his deflected strike from inside the box struck the underside of the bar and bounced down the wrong side of the goalline.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner also saw a chance saved by Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez seven minutes before the break.

Juventus' second goal came 20 minutes from time when Roger Ibanez turned into his own net while trying to stop Ronaldo getting to a Dejan Kulusevski cross.

The win on Saturday meant Juve overtook Roma in the table and move move five points behind leaders Inter, who beat Fiorentina 2-0 on Friday, with a game in hand.

Second-placed AC Milan are one point off top spot before hosting struggling Crotone on Sunday.

Napoli missed the chance to pull level on points with Roma, falling to their second defeat in three league games, 2-1 against Genoa.

Gennaro Gattuso's side host nine-time reigning champions Juve and Ronaldo next weekend.

"We'd prepared for this sort of game," said Juve manager Andrea Pirlo, whose side drew 2-2 with Roma the last time the teams met.

"In the reverse fixture, Roma employed the same tactic against us and this time we wanted to turn the game on its head tactically.

"Sometimes you can play well, sometimes less well. The important thing is to bring home the result. I don't know if it was the best Juve tonight but it was a great Juve.

"Morale is high. Defensively we're strong and we're more alert than we were before."

Pirlo has settled into his role at Juventus after a stuttering start to the campaign, with six wins in seven league games this year.

"You learn from matches and defeats. You learn something from every game, especially as it's so tactical in Italy and you can't play every game the same way," said the 2006 World Cup winner.

Ronaldo later tweeted: "Happy to score and help the team against a tough opponent! 3 important points!"

Meanwhile, Paulo Fonseca's Roma have still not beaten any of the other top eight teams this season.

Former captain Edin Dzeko returned after being sidelined following a falling out with his manager, but the Bosnian's presence failed to lift his side.

Roma are two points behind Juventus in fourth, having played one game more than the Turin side.

"We had more shots on goal [14 to three], more corners [nine to two), but it's the team that scores goals that wins," said Fonseca. "A player like Ronaldo makes the difference. That's why he's the best in the world."