All eyes on Ronaldo
Paris, Nov. 21: Cristiano Ronaldo takes on his first professional club Sporting in Tuesday’s Champions League action, as a champion of Europe with Real and Portugal and is widely expected to pick up his fourth Ballon d’Or. He will doubtless receive a hero’s welcome on his return to the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Ronaldo’s hat-trick this weekend delivered a 3-0 away win at Atletico Madrid despite the visitors missing six key players in captain Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Alvaro Morata and Karim Benzema.
Champions League holders Real won the reverse fixture 2-1 and are unbeaten in 29 games in all competitions. All Zinedine Zidane’s men need here is a point to secure passage to the next round, but with Dortmund top of the group by two points Real will want to hunt them down as a point of pride — and to earn an easier draw in the next round. Sporting are on an upturn and scoring regularly and are still in with a chance of the Europa League.
English champions Leicester top Group G with 10 points and have yet to concede a goal. Conversely, Brugge are yet to notch up a single point. A draw for the hosts would mean they progress to the next stage with a game to spare.
In Group H, this is arguably the match of the round with Sevilla top on 10 points and visitors Juve second on eight with a tight 0-0 draw in Italy in the reverse fixture. Sevilla are flying high in Spain
after they produced a stunning fightback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Deportivo la Coruna.
Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli’s version of Sevilla is thrilling fans after transforming the Europa League champions into a free-thinking outfit.
In Group E, morale is on the floor in Moscow with CSKA bottom of the group before Lever-kusen’s visit. The defending Russian champions this week saw their midfielder Roman Eremenko hit with a twoyear ban for cocaine use after a positive test following the reverse fixture between the teams in September.
The Muscovites registered their first win in five league games at the weekend and must win this game to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last 16. Leverkusen can progress by avoiding defeat, provided Tottenham Hotspur lose away to Monaco.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in real trouble in the Champions League having lost at home to Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen. They will be eliminated
if they fail to win at the Stade Louis II and Leverkusen better their result.
In Group F, Dortmund, the 1997 winners and 2013 runners-up, are already certain to progress to the last 16 having amassed 10 points from four matches. Thomas Tuchel’s side are now looking to secure top spot and a win at home to already-eliminated Legia.