Ronaldo, who moved back to the top of the league's scorer's chart with 18 goals, could even have had a hat-trick in the first half.

Weston McKennie sealed the result with a goal after the break.

Champions Juventus move up to third on the table, eight points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan, having played a match less.

It was Crotone's fifth successive defeat and leaves them eight points from safety.

Juventus were looking for a big win after a disappointing week in which they lost at Porto 2-1 in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday, days after losing 1-0 at Napoli in the league.

Ronaldo, who hadn't scored since the start of the month, came close on a couple of occasions before breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute when he headed in an Alex Sandro cross.

Ronaldo doubled his tally in first-half stoppage time with another impressive header, this time from an Aaron Ramsey cross.

The 36-year-old Ronaldo should have had a third moments later but he fired Ramsey's pass narrowly wide of the right post.

Crotone never looked like getting back into the match and Juventus wrapped up the win in the 66th when a corner eventually came through to McKennie and he controlled it on his chest before firing his effort into the net.

Australian Associated Press