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The excitement moves on as European heavyweights continue locking horns in the Round of 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League this season. Once again, all eyes will be on Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo as he leads Juventus's charge for European glory for another year.
After succumbing to two final defeats in the European tournament - both to FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in 2015 and 2017 respectively - the Bianconeri decided it was time to take a step further - sending shockwaves across the globe by luring Ronaldo to the Allianz Stadium to bolster their chances.
The experiment didn't produce the desired outcome last season. The Italian champions were sent packing from the competition by a young Ajax side in the quarter-finals. Nevertheless, Ronaldo remains as determined as ever to lift the Bianconeri to the summit of European football. Below are four reasons why he could finally get the job done this term:
#3 He's peaking at the right time
Cristiano Ronaldo had a slow start to the season, experiencing a dip in form as Juventus kick-started their defense of the Serie A title. However, he's taken his game to another level since we entered 2020, rolling back the years with scintillating performances and punishing opposition defenses at every given opportunity.
Following his return of 21 goals and eight assists from 31 Serie A appearances for the Old Lady that earned him the Serie A MVP award last term, he's already bagged 20 goals from 20 games in the Italian top flight, including 15 in his last 10 games.
The Portuguese has really peaked at the right time for Juventus and that comes as a huge boost to their Champions League hopes. He will lead the attack when the Bianconeri travel to France to face Olympic Lyon for the first leg of their Round of 16 encounter this Wednesday.
#Note: All statistics are as of February 22, 2020
#2 New coach, new system
Although Cristiano Ronaldo proved his class by scoring all the four goals the Bianconeri recorded in the knockout phase of the tournament, the club eventually fell short when they clashed with Ajax in the quarter-finals despite him finding the back of the net in both legs of the tie. The 2018-19 campaign wasn't as successful as hoped.
Fingers were largely pointed at the then manager, Massimiliano Allegri for his tactical failings that cost the team in Europe. This season though, former Chelsea head coach, Maurizio Sarri is in charge of affairs in Turin and it appears his tactics are finally getting the best out of Ronaldo.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has already bagged 24 goals for Juve across all competitions this season. He still has just two goals in the Champions League but that is no concern as the competition has already reached the stage where he shows his class and he will surely be banging in the goals in the coming weeks.
#1 His Legacy
Ronaldo always leaves his footprint everywhere he goes - doing incredible things and setting records that will keep his name in memories for a long time. He did it while at Manchester United and then replicated the act during his days as a Real Madrid player.
It's an open secret that the main assignment the Portuguese has at the Allianz Stadium is to help Juve return to the summit of European football. It's a task he is more than willing to fulfill, especially given that it would give critics the chance to underestimate his exploits if he fails to get the job done.
Ronaldo's obsession to protect his legacy and his desire to succeed always could help Juventus to land their long-awaited Champions League crown this season. When the Portuguese sets a target, he doesn't give up until he gets there. We saw as he fought against all the odds to make sure he tied with Lionel Messi at five Ballon d'Or counts in 2017. We could be in for another genius act from the never-tiring icon.
If he manages to inspire the Bianconeri to UCL triumph this term, he would match Clarence Seedorf's record of winning the European crown with three different clubs. Should he find the back of the net in the final, he would be the only player to score in four Champions League finals and there is a lot more he could even achieve.
It's a well-known fact that Ronaldo is a man for the records. There's no bigger motivation for the Juventus talisman than to further strengthen his stand among the legends of the game with fantastic records on the most iconic stage in club football. This year seems the year the winger could achieve his mission in Turin. Let's wait and see how it unfolds.
Also read | Maurizio Sarri insists Juve will remain focused with Inter Milan on the horizon
