A frustrating first half was littered with opportunities for Napoli, with their best effort coming from Amir Rrahmani’s header, but the visitors came close through Tommaso Augello and Adam Obert.

The game suddenly kicked into life in the second half with three goals in six minutes when Victor Osimhen fired the hosts ahead, but Leonardo Pavoletti quickly equalised before Kvaratskhelia had the final say to net Napoli’s winner minutes later.

Victory ensured Walter Mazzarri’s side bounced back from two consecutive league losses and moved fourth in the table, while Cagliari continue to linger above the relegation zone.

Napoli had a chance in the opening minutes from a free-kick as Stanislav Lobotka chipped the ball to Kvaratskhelia on the right, who fired wide from a tight angle.

The hosts dominated the early stages as Osimhen tested Simone Scuffet twice and they broke from a Cagliari corner but Matteo Politano’s shot was deflected for a corner.

The winger then had an effort scooped up by Scuffet as the hosts continued to push for the opener, coming close again when Edoardo Goldaniga stuck out a leg to block Osimhen’s shot.

Cagliari had a great chance in the 21st minute when a corner was cleared as far as Augello, who fired from the edge of the box but the ball was deflected just wide of the post.

Napoli came close again in the 29th minute as Politano floated a free-kick to Rrahmani on the right, but his header smashed off the far post before being cleared and they were frustrated again when Jens Cajuste cut in from the right and fired over.

Cagliari had a brilliant opportunity from the break as Antoine Makoumbou launched a fantastic cross-field pass to Nahitan Nandez, but Alex Meret did well to rush forward and make the save.

The visitors had a chance just seconds into the second half but Obert’s effort was held by Meret and Napoli’s frustrations continued when Frank Anguissa’s powerful effort sailed over the bar.

The hosts eventually found the opener in the 69th minute when Osimhen’s header was palmed away by Scuffet and despite his best efforts, the ball smashed off the post and into the net.

Napoli’s lead was shortlived as Cagliari captain Pavoletti came back to haunt his former club, bundling in Zito Luvumbo’s cross from close range to level just three minutes later.

However, Napoli suddenly retook the lead in style in the 75th minute as Osimhen kept the ball with some superb skills before passing low across the six-yard box for Kvaratskhelia to smash home at the far post.

Politano then had a goal ruled out for offside before the visitors had a great chance to level in the final minutes when Alberto Dossena headed over the bar.

Cagliari made the brighter start and were fearless in sending men forward as they looked to shock a Juventus side injured from their midweek Champions League exit.

But the Old Lady and Cristiano Ronaldo dealt the sucker-punch against the run of play after just 10 minutes, with the Portuguese leaping highest for a Juan Cuadrado corner to send a trademark bullet header past Alessio Cragno.

And 15 minutes later Cragno was helpless again as he brought down the onrushing Ronaldo inside the box, handing Juventus a penalty that the Portuguese hammered down the middle after picking himself up.

A hat-trick looked inevitable, and the number seven had his third with just over half an hour played. Federico Chiesa found him on the right flank, and after cutting inside on his left, Ronaldo found the top corner with an unstoppable effort.

Cagliari appeared unphased by their three-goal deficit and continued to hassle and harry a nervous Juventus backline.

Duncan was the first to sting Wojciech Szczesny’s palms with a vicious free-kick and moments later Nahitan Nandez did the same with a dipping long-distance effort.

And the hosts finally had the goal they deserved when Gabriele Zappa picked out the unmarked Giovanni Simeone inside the box with the striker sending a rifled, acrobatic effort into the net to pull a goal back.

Cagliari continued to press with Juventus forced to replace striker Alvaro Morata with defender Leonardo Bonucci.

But despite a spirited effort, Ronaldo’s first-half masterclass was enough for Andrea Pirlo’s men who go ten points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a game in hand still to play.

Asamoah overtakes fellow Ghanaian player, Sulley Muntari as most capped African in Serie A history

The 32-year-old joined Cagliari as a free agent in January after parting ways with Inter Milan.

Over the weekend, he made his debut when he came on as a second-half substitute, replacing Joao Pedro in the 77th minute.

The Ghanaian chalked history with his latest appearance – his 271^st – in the Italian top-flight to become the African footballer with the most appearances in Serie A, overtaking compatriot Sulley Muntari.

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Muntari made 270 appearances in Serie A during his stints with Udinese, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Pescara.

Meanwhile, Asamoah has enjoyed a fruitful career in Italy, having played in Italy in all of his professional years.

He made over 100 appearances during his time with Juventus, winning six league titles in the process.

The deal is due to expire at the end of the current campaign and he has already passed his medical.

The 32-year-old has spent almost his entire career in Italy.

His previous clubs include Torino, Udinese, Juventus and most recently Inter.

His contract was terminated by mutual consent with the Nerazzurri on October 5, 2020.

He joins his compatriot Alfred Duncan at Cagliari. Duncan joined them on loan during the just-ended January transfer window.

Cagliari has an option to buy when the loan deal expires at the end of the current season.

The Sardinians confirmed the signing of the former Sassuolo midfielder on their official website on Sunday.

“Cagliari are delighted to announce the signing of Alfred Duncan from Fiorentina. The player joins the team on loan with an option to buy,” the club said.

Cagliari have revealed the 27-year-old has chosen the shirt No. 32.

Duncan has been capped nine times by Ghana since 2012 and scored one goal.

The 27-year-old will undergo a medical examination in the Italian capital of Rome before teaming up with his new teammates on Monday.

The midfielder will link up with former coach Eusebio Di Francesco, who trained him for two seasons at Sassuolo.

He left Fiorentina’s training grounds on Friday morning to head to Rome for the medicals, after which the deal is expected to be signed.

“I can say that he is a very welcome player,” Eusebio Di Francesco, who is the manager of Cagliari, said.

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“I hope to train him again soon,” he added.

The midfielder is joining the club on an initial loan deal with an option to buy.

He joined Fiorentina in January 2020 but has only managed 17 league games in that period, scoring one goal and one assist.

The Ghanaian has been capped nine times by his country.