Gods turn back on hotshot maestro Germans out to fire again
Real striker finding his mojo as Ballon d’Or race hots up
TWO games without a goal is run-of-the-mill for most footballers, but for Cristiano Ronaldo it constitutes a drought.
Ronaldo will be looking to forget his early-season struggles as Real Madrid aim to lay down a marker in their quest for a third consecutive Champions League at Borussia Dortmund today.
The Portuguese remains the strong favourite to match Lionel Messi’s record of five Ballon d’Or wins for his starring role in guiding Madrid to a first La Liga and Champions League double in 59 years.
However, Messi’s sensational form for Barcelona and the attention garnered by Neymar’s world record move to Paris Saint-Germain last month has starved Ronaldo of the attention he craves.
All three were named as the finalists for Fifa’s Men’s Player Award for 2017 last week.
It is Ronaldo, though, who has so far failed to hit his stratospherically high standards this season as Real have fallen seven points behind Barca in the La Liga title race.
A five-game suspension for pushing a referee after being sent-off in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup has been the principle cause.
Ronaldo described the ban as “persecution” on the part of the Spanish federation.
But the punishment didn’t end with the ban as a rusty Ronaldo misfired badly as Real’s run of scoring in 73 straight games was ended in a shock 1-0 defeat to Real Betis last week. Ronaldo also fired a blank as Madrid edged past bottom of the table Alaves on Saturday despite having 18 shots across his last two games.
“Cristiano is like he always is. When he doesn’t score you ask me about him, but he is calm,” insisted Real boss Zinedine Zidane.
“He wanted to score which is normal, but it’s a long season and he always ends up making the difference.”
It would take something extraordinary to deny Ronaldo the Ballon d’Or after scoring 10 times from the Champions League quarterfinals on against a calibre of opposition such as Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
Yet, Messi’s reaction to Neymar’s decision to forge pastures new at PSG has been a telling demonstration of who is really the irreplaceable figure at the Camp Nou.
Messi has helped guide Barca to six wins from six in La Liga and a 3-0 thumping of Juventus in the Champions League scoring 12 goals in nine appearances in all competitions.
Indeed, at club level, Messi now has 43 goals in 2017 to Ronaldo’s 29.
Neymar’s numbers are far more modest despite five goals in six games for PSG as he has adapted well to his new surroundings and new stature as the world’s most expensive player.
One of the Brazilian’s motives for leaving the lure of Messi and Barcelona behind was reportedly his desire to win the Ballon d’Or.
But at 25 his time is more likely to come in future years if Messi (30) and Ronaldo (32) begin to wane.
Neymar will need to live up to the hype of his record price tag not just in Ligue 1 but at Champions League level to be crowned the world’s best and the visit of Bayern Munich to the Parc des Princes tomorrow is his greatest opportunity to make an impact before
Yet, despite the individual nature of the award, it is trophies that tend to tilt the balance of the Ballon d’Or and, having beaten his competitors to La Liga and the Champions League, Ronaldo remains the man to beat. — AFP January’s award ceremonies. BORUSSIA Dortmund will aim to maintain their unbeaten record at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League today and spoil Cristiano Ronaldo’s 150th European appearance.
Dortmund and title-holders Real meet in the group stage for the second year running.
The teams drew both games 2-2 last season as the Germans topped the section before bowing out in the last eight while Real went on to win a record 12th title.
Dortmund have won three and drawn three of their meetings at Signal Iduna Park, including their dazzling 4-1 first-leg win in the 2013 Champions League semifinal when Robert Lewandowski scored all four goals.
Defending champions Real opened their group campaign with a 3-0 win at home to Apoel while Dortmund suffered a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago.
The Germans’ main task will be containing four-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, who has scored 110 goals in European competition but failed to find the net in his last two outings.
The Portuguese superstar is among the final three nominees for the Best Fifa Men’s Player 2017 award and the winner will be announced on October 23.
Dortmund flexed their muscles ahead of the heavyweight showdown with a 6-1 home drubbing of Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German league on Saturday as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted a hattrick.
The Gabon striker has now scored eight goals in six league games.
He has forged a partnership – dubbed ‘Philameyang’ by the German media – with left-winger Maximilian Philipp, who has scored four goals in his last three games.
“Things couldn’t have gone better,” beamed Dortmund’s World Cup winner Mario Goetze, who is back in form after a metabolic disorder, following the Gladbach win.
“However, we know that it will be a mammoth task against Real on Tuesday.”
While Dortmund shone in attack, they struggled at the back against Gladbach, who had half a dozen clear chances to score which went begging.
Zinedine Zidane’s Real are unlikely to be as forgiving.
“Against Real, mistakes like that will be punished totally differently,” warned Dortmund director Michael Zorc.
Dortmund’s big win came with forwards Marco Reus, Andre Schuerrle and Raphael Guerreiro injured while new signing Andriy Yarmolenko, Nuri Sahin and Gonzalo Castro were not used.
Real traditionally have a terrible record in Germany with 19 defeats, seven draws and only five wins.
Zidane is without a left-back as Marcelo (hamstring) and Theo Hernandez (shoulder) are both out, so Nacho is set to fill in.
Karim Benzema is missing with a hamstring injury, but Luka Modric and Gareth Bale were both rested at the weekend and Toni Kroos is expected to return after injury. — AFP