5 intriguing fixtures from the first week of the 2018/19 Champions League

#5 Valencia vs. Juventus

Juventus v US Sassuolo - Serie A — After scoring his first goals for Juventus, can Cristiano Ronaldo now help them win the Champions League?

If Real Madrid need to get used to life in Europe without Ronaldo, then CR7 himself needs to get used to life in Europe away from Real Madrid. This weekend saw him score a brace as his new side Juventus downed Sassuolo 2-1, and the fact that he’s now scored his first goals at his new club – in his 4th game there – should take a lot of pressure off his shoulders.

The Italian champions should actually be considered strong contenders to win the whole competition this season now they’ve added Ronaldo, who is undoubtedly the best goalscorer in Champions League history. Their squad is as deep as anyone’s, their defence – containing the apparently ageless Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci – is rock-solid, and they have plenty of experience in the competition.

Valencia meanwhile haven’t been in the Champions League since 2015/16, where they exited in the group stage in disappointing fashion. But this summer they’ve signed a plethora of players including Ronaldo’s Portuguese teammate Goncalo Guedes and Belgian hitman Michy Batshuayi. However, they have yet to win in La Liga, having drawn three and lost one thus far.

If Ronaldo comes in with his usual Champions League form then this match could easily become one-sided, but even then it should be interesting to see Juventus flex their muscles and send a message that they’re potential winners. Therefore this is a must-see match this week.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

Know More

Edited by Ben Winfield