The Champions League returns on Friday night following a 150-day absence.Europe’s premier club cup competition was halted in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.But UEFA have organised for the 2019-20 Champions League to be completed over a two-week period this month.The remaining Round of 16 fixtures take place on Friday and Saturday, including Juventus v Lyon.Juve are 1-0 down from February’s first leg after losing in France. Lucas Tousart’s first-half goals sealed victory for Rudi Garcia’s side at the Groupama Stadium.Cristiano Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes that night but was unable to prevent Juve from slumping to a surprise defeat.There’s absolutely no doubt that he will be desperate to drag his side through to the Champions League quarter-finals on Friday.And would you bet against him doing just that? No chance.Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times during his illustrious career (once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid) and was signed by Juventus to turn the Italian giants into European Champions for the first time since 1996.The 35-year-old is the Champions League’s all-time leading scorer with a remarkable 128 goals and can further cement his status as the competition’s greatest ever player by lifting the European Cup with Juve this month.
Ahead of Ronaldo’s return to Champions League action, BT Sport have posted a brilliant video of some of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s greatest ever moments in the competition.
But this video is different to most others. All of the footage from the three-minute video is in slow-motion and it’s a joy to watch…
Superb. What a player.
Ronaldo has produced so many unforgettable moments in the Champions League since 2003.
And there will no doubt be plenty more to come.
"Ronaldo is training in the right manner," Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri, who rested Cristiano for Juve’s 3-1 defeat against AS Roma last week, was quoted saying by BBC Sport.
"On Wednesday he scored an excellent goal in training. He played many games in a short time, he rested a little and now he has trained with intensity and strength."
Sarri, meanwhile, dismissed suggestions that he could lose his job if Juve fail to advance past Lyon.
"I don't think my future is riding on this game," he added. "Thinking this way you make the club directors look like amateurs.
"I think I'm dealing with high level directors. They will decide whether to continue or to change. But it doesn't depend on a single game."