Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his side's third goal for his personal hat trick in thirty minutes during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Cagliari and Juventus, at the Sardegna Arena stadium in Cagliari, Italy, March 14, 2021. (PHOTO / AP)

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a perfect hat-trick inside 32 minutes as Juventus bounced back from their midweek Champions League exit by beating Cagliari 3-1 away in Serie A on Sunday.

The 36-year-old striker found the net with a header, a right-footed penalty and a left-foot shot and celebrated by pointing to his ear in an apparent response to recent criticism.

Cristiano Ronaldo found the net with a header, a right-footed penalty and a left-foot shot and celebrated by pointing to his ear in an apparent response to recent criticism

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The Italian champions and their Portuguese talisman were under pressure to perform after suffering a disappointing European elimination against Porto on Tuesday.

They enjoyed a comfortable win despite Giovanni Simeone’s second half strike for the hosts and are now third with 55 points, 10 behind leaders Inter Milan with a game in hand.

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It was Cagliari coach Leonardo Semplici’s first defeat since taking over in February and left his side in 17th place on 22 points, two clear of the relegation zone.