In- form Ronaldo insists Real won’t be tripped up against Juventus in Cardiff
● Portuguese ace on a hot streak at right time after being rested by Zidane
Crist ian oR on al do is going into Saturday’ s Champions League final in Cardiff playing his best football of the season.
The Portuguese forward is peaking at just the right time as his Real Madridside get ready to take on Juventus at the Principality Stadium.
“I feel good, in great form,” Ronaldo said before travelling to Wales.
He has managed his form and fitness this season in a way that he has never done before, skipping several games so he could stay fresh and thrive in the final series of games.
That rest has paid off, with Ronaldo scoring 14 goals in his last nine matches – his best run of the season.
He scored two consecutive hat- tricks in the Champions League, one in the quarterfinal against Bayern Munich and another in the semi- final against city rivals At leti co Madrid. In Real’s final three Spanish league games, he scored five goals to lead the team to their first title in five years.
And he is certainly not short of confidence ahead of Saturday’s showdown with the Italian champions.
“We must go into the match with humility, but showing attitude and character, showing that we are the better team,” Ronaldo said. “Juventus is a great team, but I think we are better. I have the feeling that we are going to play a great match and win. We are thinking positive.”
It had previously been alacklustresea son by Ron al do’ s
CRISTIANO RONALDO
standards, and his slow start prevented him from reaching 50 goals for the first time since his debut season with Real in 2009-10. He still arrive sin Cardiff with 40 strikes under his belt, however.
Ronaldo also struggled early in the Champions League, scoring only twice in his first eight games, but finished with eight goals in his last four matches, becoming the first player to break the 100 - goal mark in the competition.
“We are in a great moment and we have to take advantage of it,” Ronaldo added. He gave credit for his great run to Real coach Zinedine Zidane’s ability to keep the team competitive despite regularly rotating his squad.
“I’m in better shape physically than in other seasons,” the 32- year- old said. “Zidane intelligently managed the squad.”
Ronald oh as done well against Juve in the past, having scored five goals in the four matches he has played against the Turin side while with Real. Two of those goals came in the semi- finals of the Champions League in 2015, when Juventus won 3- 2 before eventually los- ing in the final to Real’s bitter rivals Barcelona.
Real are trying to become the first team to win back- to- back titles since the competition’s new format wascreated in 1992. Ronaldo istr ying to win his fourth Champions League trophy.
His first came with Manchester United in 2008, and returned with Real in 2014 and 2016. He scored in extra time in the final against At leti co Madrid three years ago, and converted the deciding penalty kick in last year’s shootout, also against Atletico.
“Juventus is a great team, but I think we are better. I have the feeling that we are going to play a great match and win”