The nightmare continues: Cristiano Ronaldo fails again prematurely in the Champions League with Juventus Turin. – Photo: Federico Tardito / Imago Images
The nightmare continues: Cristiano Ronaldo fails again prematurely in the Champions League with Juventus Turin. – Photo: Federico Tardito / Imago Images
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Also in the third year with Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus said goodbye to the Champions League early on. After the end against FC Porto, the superstar is heavily criticized, when the decisive goal conceded in extra time, he didn’t look good at all.
Cristiano Ronaldo squeezes his eyes tight and turns away in the wall. The shot rushes between his legs into the goal, just minutes after the free kick Juventus Turin is out in the Champions League. Again much too early, and not least because of his fearful superstar. Even in the third year with the five-time world footballer, the old lady ends before things get really serious. The 3: 2 (2: 1, 0: 1) after extra time against FC Porto was not enough, with the 1: 2 in Ronaldo’s homeland Portugal, Italy’s series champions were thrown out because of the away goals rule in the round of 16 – despite the almost 70-minute excess.
The Sky moderators had a lot of fun with Ronaldo on Tuesday – speculating about his future plans
“Another disaster,” wrote the Gazzetta dello Sport, “despite an investment of 348 million euros. The worst Ronaldo of all time will be used against Porto.” For Corriere dello Sport, “Juve was betrayed by Ronaldo. The nightmare will come true again. The Champions League is bewitched for Turin.” The Gazzetta even charged Ronaldo with “What a hole at 2-2”, the newspaper headlined on the game-winning scene. Sergio Oliveira had put the free kick through the holey wall (115th), Adrien Rabiot’s winning goal (117th) didn’t help.
“Anyone standing in the wall must not be afraid”
The player who is supposed to make the difference made the difference, but behind. With the club legend Fabio Capello, Ronaldo got off badly. “If you stand in the wall, you mustn’t be afraid of being hit,” said the 74-year-old, five times champion with Juve as a professional and coach: “An unforgivable mistake for which there is no excuse.” With the sinfully expensive Portuguese, Juventus wanted to attack again properly in Europe. Because the last Champions League victory so far was 25 years ago. But the balance with the 36-year-old is sobering: 2019 out in the quarter-finals against Ajax Amsterdam, 2020 out in the second round against Olympique Lyon and now the end against Porto. Turin always failed as a favorite. In the league, the Bianconeri are already ten points behind leaders Inter Milan (with one game less), and their tenth title in a row is rather unlikely. Difficult times for Andrea Pirlo – and for Cristiano Ronaldo. − sid
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