Football news - Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick inspires remarkable Juventus comeback
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 12/03/2019 at 22:39 GMT
Juventus Stadium, Champions League – Juventus 3 (Ronaldo, 27', 48', 86' (P.)) Atletico Madrid 0 (Juventus win 3-2 on aggregate)
Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates his third goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Juventus and Club de Atletico Madrid at Allianz Stadium on March 12, 2019 in Turin, Italy.
Image credit: Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick as Juventus beat Atletico Madrid 3-0 at the Juventus Stadium, with Turin side progressing 3-2 on aggregate.
Amidst an electrifying atmosphere in Turin, Juventus dominated possession form the outset and looked to have taken the lead after four minutes, when Giorgio Chiellini poked in an effort after a scramble at a corner. However, Ronaldo was adjudged to have fouled Jan Oblak during the melee and Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers ruled it out.
Filippo Bernardeschi posed a constant threat and certainly vindicated Max Allegri's decision to start Paolo Dybala on the bench. The Italian’s cross in the 27th minute was met with a characteristically athletic leap from Ronaldo for the opener.
Atleti threatened to kill the tie in the moments before half time when Alvaro Morata headed wide from a well-placed Koke cross.
However, the visitors struggled to deal with the crosses the Old Lady pumped into the box and minutes after the restart Ronaldo scored his second with another header. Oblak appeared to have kept the effort out with a full-stretch save, but replays confirmed the ball had crossed the line.
With a little over five minutes remaining on the clock, Bernardeschi charged down the left channel and was caught by substitute Angel Correa in the box. A penalty was awarded, which Ronaldo duly converted for his hat-trick.
The Portuguese star’s header was his 25th goal against Atleti in all competitions and his eighth Champions League hat-trick. Juve progressed to their 12th Champions League quarterfinals, eliminating an Atleti team who have made at least that stage in four of the last six competitions.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2019/03/12/2542514-52748990-2560-1440.jpg)
Cristiano Ronaldo (C) of Juventus celebrates following the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Juventus and Club de Atletico Madrid at Allianz Stadium on March 12, 2019 in Turin, Italy.
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT: Can Juventus win the Champions League?
Juventus have made the Champions League final twice since 2015, falling at the final hurdle on both occasions. Now, with five-time winner Ronaldo in their ranks, and the reigning champions eliminated, the Old Lady are in an excellent position to go all the way.
Manchester City will likely remain favourites for the competition, but tonight showed that the Turin side have a strong claim to the trophy they last held in 1996.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2019/03/12/2542516-52749030-2560-1440.jpg)
Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates following his sides victory in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Juventus and Club Atletico de Madrid at Allianz Stadium on March 12, 2019 in Turin, Italy.
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo
Nights like this are exactly why Juventus spent so much on the Portuguese megastar. Ronaldo was up for this game from the moment the whistle blew and showed superb athleticism for both his goals from open play.
This competition is his stage and he is the master of dragging a team to victory.
PLAYER RATINGS
Juventus: Szczesny 6; Cancelo 8, Bonucci 7, Chiellini 7, Spinazzola 8; Emre Can 7, Pjanic 7, Matuidi 6; Bernardeschi 8, Mandzukic 6; Cristiano Ronaldo 9.
Subs: .Dybala 6 , Kean 6.
Atletico Madrid: Oblak 6; Arias 7, Giménez 7, Godín 6, Juanfran 6; Sául 6, Koke 7, Rodrigo 7, Lemar 7; Griezmann 6, Morata 6.
Subs: Vitolo 6, .Correa 6.
KEY MOMENTS
27’ - GOAL! What a brilliant header from Ronaldo! Bernardeschi's brilliant cross from the left is met at the backpost by the Juve talisman!
45+2’ - CHANCE! Morata heads a perfectly placed cross over the bar! That could have killed the tie!
48 - GOAL! Ronaldo with another header! It looked as if Oblak had kept it out at full stretch but it had crossed the line! This is why Juventus bought him!
86’ - GOAL! No doubt from Ronaldo, he sends it into the bottom corner.
KEY STATS
- Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored more Champions League knockout goals (63) than group stage goals (61).
- Juventus are undefeated in 26 of their last 28 home Champions League matches.
- Atlético Madrid have lost in Italy for the first time in more than seven years.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article