Ronaldo scores hat-trick in Juventus’ turnaround
Cristiano cranks it up; fires in a hat-trick as Juventus turn Champs game on its head
Turin (Italy), March 13: Cristiano Ronaldo made a mockery of Atletico Madrid’s vaunted defence, and then mocked their coach as well.
Ronaldo scored a hattrick against the normally resilient Spanish side to send Juventus into the Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-0 win as they fought back from a two-goal first-leg defeat.
The former Real Madrid player outjumped Atletico’s defenders to score a header in each half and then converted a late penalty for his first hat trick since joining Juventus in the summer and just when they needed it most.
He celebrated at the final whistle by mimicking the obscene gesture Atletico coach Diego Simeone made after the Spanish side’s second goal in the first leg having the final say against a rival he so often defeated as a Real Madrid player.
Simeone was fined 20,000 euros ($22,500) by UEFA for improper conduct and it remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will face a similar punishment.
It was Ronaldo’s eighth hat-trick in the Champions League, moving him level with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and demonstrating why Juventus paid Real Madrid 112 million euros for the Portugal star who has dominated the competition in recent years.
It was the first time Juventus came back from a two-goal defeat in the first leg.
“Maybe that’s why Juventus signed me,” Ronaldo said, adding, “To help it do things that it had never done before. This result is a great push for the future, we’re strong and we showed it.” — AP
● It was Ronaldo’s eighth hat-trick in the Champions League, moving him level with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and demonstrating why Juventus paid Real Madrid 112 million euros for the Portugal star who has dominated the competition in recent years.
● It was the first time Juventus came back from a twogoal defeat in the first leg.