RON HAS A POINT TO PROVE AGAINST JOSE
After serving a one-match suspension, Cristiano Ronaldo will return to action when Juventus visit his former club Manchester United on Tuesday night. HT looks at the talking points ahead of the clash:
RUTHLESS
Despite Ronaldo’s loving relationship with Manchester United and their fans, the Champions League’s all-time top-scorer has shown no mercy. BRICK BY BRICK During his time with Real Madrid, the Spanish giants faced United on three occasions. Ronaldo scored twice over the two legs in the round of 16 ties, including scoring the winning goal at Old Trafford that ensured Real’s progression and United’s exit.
CATCH-UP GAME
After being sent off in his first CL game for Juventus against Valencia, Ronaldo will be looking to put the disappointing start behind him. He will also be keen to catch up with Lionel Messi, who has scored five goals in his first two games. Ronaldo is yet to score a goal in the European competition this season. With the Argentine likely to miss the next two games with a broken arm, Ronaldo can make up.
CRISTIANO’S CHALLENGE
The tie also brings Ronaldo face to face with former manager Jose Mourinho, under whom he scored 60 times in 55 matches during the 2011-12 campaign at Real. But when on opposite sides, Ronaldo has not fared well against Jose. The 33-year-old has scored only one goal against Mourinho-coached teams in 14 appearances. In United colours Ronaldo failed to net against Jose’s Chelsea, only ending his dry spell with a goal against the Portuguese’s Inter in 2009.