UCL: Ronaldo endures torrid return as Atletico maul Juventus 2-0 in Madrid (PHOTOS)
Cristiano Ronaldo had a dismal return to Madrid as his Juventus side went down 2-0 to Atletico in the UEFA Champions League last 16. To add insult to injury, the Spanish side's second goal deflected off the Portuguese forward.
A Uruguayan double from Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin was enough to down Juve and Ronaldo, who was making his return to the Spanish capital following his $100 million summer move to Turin from Madrid giants Real, to face arch rivals Atletico at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium – the venue for this season's final.
After a goalless first half, on-loan striker Alvaro Morata, a former Ronaldo teammate at Santiago Bernabeu, had what seemed like a perfectly good header ruled out for a push in the buildup and, after some deliberation, a prospective opener was chalked off, just as a recent goal against Real Madrid had been for the Spaniard.
So Morata scored two goals for Athletico against Real Madrid and Juventus, but they where cancelled. #AtletiJuveMorata right now: pic.twitter.com/3Z8tMXkEIq
— Chemical Boy ✌️ (@Chemicalboyy) February 20, 2019
Nevertheless, Atletico did eventually take the lead; after a scramble in the goalmouth from a corner, the ball dropped to Gimenez, who was on hand to slot home on 78 minutes, prompting a choice celebration from manager Diego Simeone.
Ronaldo the king of Champions LeagueAtletico Madrid: Hold my beer pic.twitter.com/jMox7UseFu
— Mr Sam (@XammyOfficial) February 20, 2019
Captain Godin poked into an empty net five minutes later when the ball broke free from a throng of players in the box after a free kick was floated in, to double the lead on 83 minutes. A replay showed his effort took a deflection off the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, much to his chagrin.
Atletico held on for the win, which could have been by a bigger margin. Diego Costa missed a golden one-on-one chance, and also could have had a penalty had the referee deemed a foul on the striker had happened inside the area, but instead judged the motion of the player had simply carried him into the penalty box, and instead gave a free kick.
The Twitterati were quick to poke fun at Ronaldo, who endured an unfamiliarly quiet game, with surprisingly few touches or chances.
Ronaldo heat map today pic.twitter.com/ll0kuBL80S
— Luis Rivera (@LR10EIite) February 20, 2019
Ronaldo showing Atletico fans his match rating of 5.5pic.twitter.com/ZCcQkvFv4t
— Nãif ➰ (@NaifFCB_) February 20, 2019
Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored just 1 goal in his past 9 Champions League games, after scoring 11 in his previous 8.Just a blip or is age finally catching up with him? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/hNiybNveE7
— Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) February 20, 2019
In the day's other match, Manchester City came from behind away to Schalke to win 3-2 in Germany, despite defender Nicolas Otamendi being sent off in the 68th minute with the score at 2-1 to the home side.
Sergio Aguero opened the scoring for the English champions after just eight minutes played. That was then canceled out by a brace of penalties from Nabil Bentaleb, the first of those given by virtue of a VAR decision and led to Otamendi's first yellow card for handball.
MADNESSSSSSSSSSS!! @sterling7!!🔵 2-3 💙#s04vcity ⚽️ #mancitypic.twitter.com/jdozHi8F6b
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 20, 2019
It wasn't until the last five minutes of the game that City were able to mount a vital comeback. After Argentine defender Otamendi received his second booking for cynically bringing down Burgstaller, substitute Leroy Sane fired a rocket free kick into the net to level the scoring on 85 minutes.
In the last minute of the match, Raheem Sterling found himself through on goal, to slot home a winner and grab an invaluable third away goal to win the match in Gelsenkirchen and complete an heroic comeback to, perhaps, put the tie to bed in the first leg.
