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The UEFA Champions League is back and as we build up to Tuesday and Wednesday’s fixtures, the attention will not only be on the various clubs, but also on individual players.
Focusing on the latter means that the race for the Champions League golden boot will once again be in the spotlight. And in truth, this year looks like it will be one of the keenest in recent history.
The likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Edison Cavani, Robert Lewandowski and the other lethal European attackers will all be vying to emerge top scorer in the competition.
But there is a reason why Ronaldo stands as the favourite to once again rule Europe when it comes to the Champions League. The 33-year-old may no longer be at Real Madrid, but this is a competition that he has dominated since his Manchester United days.
Here are four key reasons why Ronaldo will win the Champions League golden boot again:
#4 It’s his favourite competition
There is no doubt that the UEFA Champions League remains Cristiano Ronaldo’s favourite competition. The 33-year-old is currently the all-time top scorer in the competition with a staggering 120 goals.
As impeccable as Ronaldo’s numbers in the Champions League look, he doesn’t look like he would be slowing down anytime soon. At 33, the Portuguese is still a lethal predator in front of goal and has not lost his finishing touches despite his age.
Since the 2011/12 season, Ronaldo has never recorded a tally below ten goals in the Champions League, and these are numbers unmatched by any other player in Europe.
It’s obvious that Ronaldo loves to play in the Champions League and he will be raring to go once again for the top scorer award.
#3 Juventus have favourable opponents
There is another reason why Cristiano Ronaldo stands a very big chance of winning the Champions League golden boot once again. This is because Juventus finds itself in a very favourable group with opponents that easily concede goals.
In Group H, the Italian champions are paired with Valencia, Young Boys and Manchester United. Aside from Manchester United who may prove a tough nut to crack, Juve should have it easy against their other two opponents.
Even with Manchester United, it is an open secret that the Red Devils’ defence cannot be trusted, as seen in their opening four Premier League games which have seen the club concede a massive eight goals.
This is where Ronaldo comes in. The Portuguese enjoys playing against unstable defences and will be delighted that Juve drew these sides in the group stages. No game comes easy, but Ronaldo will definitely fancy his chances against these three clubs.
#2 He’s a proven scorer
Hands up if you still doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest goal scorers the game has ever seen? How many hands…..none! You may not like him, but that does not change the fact that the Portuguese is a proven scorer and has been consistent over the years.
To score 120 Champions League goals is a great feat, but to consistently record Ronaldo’s numbers year after year is downright remarkable. This is a footballer whose goal per game ratio is simply unthinkable and has demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess in England, Spain and is currently looking to conquer Italy too.
The last time Ronaldo netted less than 30 goals a season was back in his early days at Man United. Ever since, he has taken goal scoring to different heights and remains Europe’s most deadly attacker in recent years.
The Champions League is also a known territory for the Portuguese and that is one more reason why he is most likely to emerge top scorer once again this season.
#1 Juventus now playing to his strengths
Once upon a time, Cristiano Ronaldo was drawing blanks when he joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the summer. Three games into his bow, the Portuguese had not found the net, sparking an uproar among the football world.
However, Ronaldo once again silenced his critics with a double against Sassuolo on Saturday. The 33-year-old has adapted his game but remains as potent as ever. That is why he now usually starts the season on a slow note before turning on to the next gear.
In the case of Juventus, it was obvious that he needed a bit of time to adapt to his new teammates and their style of play. Once he has gotten used to that – and Saturday showed that he has – Ronaldo will be unstoppable.
Saturday’s game against Sassuolo demonstrated that his teammates are starting to play to his strengths and that should mean better scoring chances for Ronaldo. Once the telepathy is there, expect Ronaldo to find the net anytime, anywhere, starting with Wednesday’s Champions League game against Valencia.
