TEARS OF RONALDO
He sees red and could miss Old Trafford return
CRISTIANO RONAldO could miss his Champions league return to Manchester United after being sent off for Juventus. The 33-year-old was dismissed during the first half of last night’s Group H opener here in Valencia following an off-the-ball clash with Jeison Murillo and had to be led away from the field in tears. Ronaldo will be banned
for the home game against Young Boys and could face an extended ban for violent conduct. A two-match ban from UEFA’s disciplinary body would rule him out of the trip to Old Trafford on October 23 and a three-game suspension would also keep him out of the return against United in Turin on November 7. Ronaldo flicked his boot at Murillo as they tangled entering the penalty area in the 29th minute and the defender fell to the floor. The Portugal forward then appeared to pull Murillo’s hair in an attempt to lift him off the ground and the Valencia players protested to the fifth official behind the goal. Referee Felix Brych consulted his colleague before producing the red card for Ronaldo, who reacted by collapsing to the turf in disbelief and had to be consoled by staff as he made his way down the tunnel. To a chorus of whistles and insults on his first return to Spain, he had strutted into the Mestalla before the game with the confidence of the most decorated player in the tournament’s history. But he was stripped of his swagger following his first dismissal in what was his 154th Champions League match. The home crowd had jeered his every touch but his team-mates silenced the masses as they emerged with a 2-0 victory thanks to Miralem Pjanic penalties either side of half-time. This performance certainly bodes well for Juve’s tilt at a first Champions League crown since 1996. Juventus coach Max Allegri said of the incident: ‘VAR would have avoided what happened, it would have brought the right decision. We hope the suspension will be limited.’