Ronaldo Bring Juventus To Complete Revenge For Barcelona
JAKARTA - Cristiano Ronaldo led Juventus to complete revans over Barcelona by winning a 3-0 victory on a trip to Camp Nou, Spain, for the final match of Group G in the Champions League on Tuesday local time (Wednesday WIB).
Ronaldo netted two goals from the penalty spot against Barcelona in this match, as if paying off the Portuguese superstar's absence in the first meeting at the end of October because he was still entangled with the positive results of the COVID-19 test which at that time ended for Las Blaugranas 2-0 victory.
Even though the two teams have both qualified, this match is interesting because it will be the first meeting between Lionel Messi vs Ronaldo in recent years.
81 '| 🔥 | @Cristiano back defending wins the ball from Messi in our area! 💪 # BarçaJuve [0-3] #JuveUCL pic.twitter.com/bNlcky5wbL
- JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 8, 2020
However, Messi, who returned to play after being absent from Barcelona's last two Champions League matches, was unable to leave any traces in this match.
Juventus opened the match with the initiative to attack and was awarded a penalty after Ronaldo was brought down by Ronald Araujo.
Ronaldo faced the penalty himself, who tricked goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a shot right into the middle of the net to open Juventus' lead in the 13th minute.
Seven minutes later the lead was doubled by Weston McKennie, who met Juan Cuadrado's cross with an acrobatic volley to find the home side.
Messi tried to carry the weight of Barcelona alone and stabbed the Juve defense from the left but unfortunately his shot was tipped over by aging goalkeeper Gianlugi Buffon.
Juve's lead lasted until halftime and the Old Lady entered the second half still on the offensive as McKennie forced Ter Stegen into a resounding save.
FT | ⏱ | 𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝘼 𝙉𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝘼𝙏 𝘾𝘼𝙈𝙋 𝙉𝙊𝙐! 🌟🌟🌟 # BarçaJuve #JuveUCL #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/xDREX4ehF3
- JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 8, 2020
The attacking situation was reviewed by referee Tobias Stieler in consultation with VAR, who eventually awarded Juve a second penalty after Clement Lenglet was convicted of a handball foul.
Ronaldo faced the ball again and this time aimed his shot at the bottom left corner of the net, beating Ter Stegen who jumped in the opposite direction, to increase Juventus' 3-0 lead over the hosts in the 52nd minute.
Six minutes later, Messi sends in a free-kick which is met by Antoine Griezmann's header but the ball hits the crossbar.
Barcelona kept trying to retaliate, but their goal was conceded again in the 76th minute by Leonardo Bonucci's flick, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
The 3-0 score lasted until dispersal, making Juventus coup Barcelona from the top position of Group G with the provision of an aggregate goal even though the two teams both collected 15 points, Antara noted on the official UEFA website.