TURIN, Italy (AP) – No Cristiano Ronaldo, no problem for Juventus.
Paulo Dybala filled in for the suspended star by scoring his first Champions League hat trick to give the Italian team a 3-0 victory over Young Boys on Tuesday.
With Ronaldo watching from the stands after getting his first ever red card in the competition in the previous round, Dybala rediscovered the scoring form that saw him score 22 Serie A goals last season.
It took Dybala less than five minutes to give Juventus the lead with a delightful chipped volley after a long ball over the top from Leonardo Bonucci.
Juventus almost doubled its lead 10 minutes later as Young Boys goalkeeper David von Ballmoos could only parry Bernardeschi’s effort but it was cleared for a corner.
However, Von Ballmoos was punished for a similar mistake in the 33rd minute when he pushed away Blaise Matuidi’s fierce shot and Dybala was on hand to tuck the rebound into the bottom left corner.
Juventus’ Paulo Dybala celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Dybala came close to completing his hat trick three minutes into the second half when he dispatched an angled effort past the reach of Von Ballmoos but it bounced off the inside of the left post.
Moments later he could have had a penalty after he was tripped by Young Boys defender Steve von Bergen but the referee waved play on.
Dybala did get his hat trick in the 69th, finishing off a long passing move by Juventus after being unselfishly teed up by Juan Cuadrado.
Dybala had struggled to find the net since Ronaldo joined the club this summer, having scored just once while playing in a deeper-lying role behind the Portuguese star and Mario Mandzukic in a three-pronged attack.
Young Boys’ evening was made even worse in the 78th when defender Mohamed Ali Camara was sent off following two bookings in quick succession.
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Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner Georgina sit in the stands prior to the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, left, celebrates with his teammate Leonardo Bonucci after scoring during the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, center, celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, right, scores his side’s third goal during the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Juventus’ Paulo Dybala scores his side’s 2nd goal during the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (Alessandro Di Marco/ANSA via AP)
Juventus’ Paulo Dybala, top, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Young Boys’ Mohamed Ali Camara walks off the pitch after getting a red card during the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri follows the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Young Boys coach Gerardo Seoane, left, watches the Champions League, group H soccer match between Juventus and Young Boys, at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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