Napoli missed the chance to take the match to extra time when captain Lorenzo Insigne failed to convert a late penalty.

Alvaro Morata sealed the result with the last kick of the game.

"It's a very happy moment and lifting my first trophy as a coach makes it even better," Pirlo said.

It was Juve's record-extending ninth Super Cup title, two more than AC Milan.

The annual match pitting the Serie A champions against the Coppa Italia winners is normally regarded as little more than a friendly and has been played abroad with the last two editions in Saudi Arabia.

However, Wednesday's match was contested in Italy at Sassuolo's Mapei Stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Juventus came in to the match with Pirlo under increasing pressure, especially after a 2-0 loss to title rivals Inter Milan on Sunday that left the Bianconeri in fifth place and 10 points adrift of leaders AC Milan.

But Ronaldo believes their Super Cup can revitalise the champions' league challenge.

"It was a tough game... but the team stayed focused and we've won an important trophy which will give us a confidence boost," he said.

"Now we must use that to win our upcoming fixtures.

"Milan and Inter are very strong, but there is a long way still to go.

"We can still win the Scudetto. It will be a long race, but it's possible."

It was a cagey match against Napoli, with few genuine scoring opportunities, but Juventus eventually broke the deadlock in the 64th minute.

A corner took a couple of ricochets before landing in the path of Ronaldo, who didn't miss from close range.

Napoli had the chance to level 10 minutes from time but Insigne fired his penalty wide of the left post after Dries Mertens had been tripped by Weston McKennie.

Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny did well to parry an effort from Piotr Zielinski seconds before Morata finished off a counter-attack.

Australian Associated Press