Atletico Madrid 2-2 Juventus: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | Champions League 2019/20

#3 A relatively quiet evening for the Portuguese #7s

Ronaldo endured a frustrating evening

Before the match started, all eyes were firmly on the two Portuguese wingers set to clash swords. For Atletico, Joao Felix, the club’s record signing, lined up alongside Diego Costa whereas the mercurial Cristiano Ronaldo was expected to be the hosts’ kryptonite, again.

However, the duo, apart from brief moments of brilliance, failed to impose themselves on the game as much as they would’ve wanted.

Felix started off brightly and even drew a smart save from the Juventus keeper, after a scintillating solo run had opened up a shooting opportunity. Unfortunately for him though, there was nothing much to shout about post that.

While he buzzed around in the closing stages, he hardly hit the dizzying heights expected of him.

As for Ronaldo, the forward put in an unselfish display and was instrumental in the first goal. The Portuguese’s run across the penalty area created the requisite space for Higuain to pick out Cuadrado.

Apart from that, the former Real Madrid star cut a frustrated figure, who was wound up by the hosts’ defence a touch.

And, though Ronaldo nearly won the encounter with a speculative effort in the dying moments of the game, he was largely on the periphery, a stark contrast to the last time both sides met in Europe.

However, having said that, there is no denying that both Portuguese players boast enough quality to leave a substantial imprint on this year’s competition. After all, Ronaldo has made a living doing exactly that.

Yet, one just reckons that the Portuguese captain and his protégé might endure better evenings than the one at the Wanda Metropolitano.