Ronaldo ready to make hay

– Cristiano Ronaldo (below) returns to Spain ready to bury the demons of his nightmare Champions League debut for Juventus tomorrow night against one of his favourite victims Atletico Madrid.

The former Real Madrid player was sent off after 28 minutes in his first European game for Juventus in Spain last September against Valencia but the Italians went on to win 2-0 even without the Portuguese star.

Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus play their Champions League last-16, first-leg tie against Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano midweek as they continue their push for the European title which has eluded them for over two decades.

Juventus are pinning their hopes on their €100-million summer signing to give them a first European win over Atletico, a team against whom the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has a long history.

Ronaldo has played the lead role in all of his five previous European triumphs – from his towering header for United against Chelsea in 2008 to the tie-clinching, 97th-minute penalty against Juventus last season in the quarters.

In between, there were the 17 goals he scored en route to the trophy in 2014, the title-winning penalty against Atletico in 2016 and the hat-trick against the same opposition, this time in the last four, a year later.

He would also score twice against Juventus in the final.

Ronaldo is riding high in Serie A where he leads the way with 19 goals scored in 24 games. He has a total of 21 goals in all competitions, including one against former club Manchester United, with 11 assists.

Allegri is counting on his inside knowledge against Atletico.

During his nine years at Real Madrid, Ronaldo played Atletico on average four times a year, mostly in La Liga but also in two Champions League finals – both won by Real.

He has scored 22 goals in 31 matches against Atletico. – AFP