Ronaldo thirsty for Valencia payback
TURIN, ITALY: Cristiano Ronaldo is in hot form and gunning for revenge going into Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Valencia after seeing red against the Spaniards in the away leg, with Juventus needing a draw in Turin to book their ticket to the knockout stage.
“Happy to have helped the team on another important win,” the 33-year-old wrote on social media after scoring his tenth goal this season for the Italian giants in Saturday’s 2-0 win over SPAL as Juventus opened up a record eight-point lead on the top of Serie A after 13 games.
Ronaldo was purchased by Juventus for €100 million euros from Real Madrid last summer to help their quest for the elusive Champions League title after finishing runners-up twice in the past four seasons.
But the Portuguese superstar is also proving to be a key element in the team’s race towards an eighth straight Serie A title, with nine goals and five assists of their 28 goals this term.
No Italian team has ever achieved 37 points from the first 13 games, with Ronaldo becoming the fastest forward in the club’s history to score 10 goals in all competitions.
“I don’t care about the numbers. I don’t count anything, the important thing is that we take it home in May,” said Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.
Colombian teammate Juan Cuadrado warned that Ronaldo’s focus remains on the pitch, as he bids to add to his five Champions League titles between Manchester United and Real Madrid.
“Cristiano Ronaldo’s main quality is his professionalism,” said Cuadrado.
“He’s hungry for victory and he’s come to the right place. We all think the same way he does.”
Juventus won the elite European title twice in 1985 and 1996, but have finished runners-up seven times.
LAPORTE EAGER TO PROVE WORTH IN LYON
LONDON: Aymeric Laporte may still be trying to win the confidence of France coach Didier Deschamps, but as Manchester City travel to Laporte’s homeland to face Lyon on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola’s trust in the centreback is indisputable.
On his arrival from Athletic Bilbao, Laporte took time to settle in his new surroundings. However, having had a full summer under Guardiola’s orders in preseason as he missed out on Deschamps’ World Cup-winning squad, Laporte has become the stalwart of a City defence that has conceded just eight goals in 19 games. In an incredibly deep squad with choices aplenty for Guardiola, the 24-year-old is the only outfield player to have played every single minute of Champions League and Premier League.