Juve bank on Ronaldo to overturn deficit
Italian giants trail Atleti after first-leg disaster
Turin – Juventus’ Champions League hopes are hanging on Cristiano Ronaldo pulling off another sensational comeback as the Italians trail 2-0 to defensive specialists Atletico Madrid going into the last 16, second-leg tie in Turin tonight. “We didn’t expect to lose the first leg 2-0, but anything can happen, and we want to give a great response in our home, in front of our fans,” Ronaldo told Juventus TV ahead of the game in the Allianz Stadium. “These are the great nights, the fantastic ones, the Champions League nights,” he continued. “The team is confident of playing a great game and I am too. To the fans I say: think positive, let’s believe.
“Get ready to come back!” The 34-year-old’s stunning overhead kick for Real in the quarterfinals in Turin last April dumped Juventus out of the tournament once again. Expectations are high that he can reproduce his improbable hat-trick which lifted Real Madrid past Wolfsburg in April 2016 with the Spaniards 2-0 down to the Germans after the first leg.
Juventus have come from behind in the elite European competition eight times – including in the 1996 quarterfinals against Real Madrid on their way to winning the title. They also lifted the European trophy in 1985, but have finished runners-up five times since their last success, including twice in the past four years.
“CR7 is here for that,” wrote Italian sports daily Corriere dello Sport, of “a game Cristiano cannot get wrong”. “He wasn’t signed to win the Scudetto or to boost merchandising, Juve are waiting to end years of disappointments.” Ronaldo won five Champions League titles with Manchester United and Real Madrid and has scored a record 121 goals, of which 57 have proved decisive. The top scorer in the Champions League for the last six seasons, he has however scored just once in this year’s competition, delivering a performance far below expectations in Madrid.
The problem for Juventus is they need to score at least twice against a team that specialises in defence.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico – second in La Liga – have not conceded a goal in five games. -
To fans I say: think positive, let’s believe
Fixtures (all 10pm)
Tonight: Man City v Schalke; Juventus v Atlético Tomorrow: Barcelona v Olympique Lyon; Bayern v Liverpool.