With another Serie A title all but wrapped up, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus turn their attention to the Champions League.
There is only one trophy left for Juventus to win. Their 13-point lead atop the Serie A table looks set to last the distance. They are out of the Coppa Italia. The Champions League is the last hurdle to clear, what would be their first European title since 1996. They begin the quest in earnest on Wednesday, when they travel to Madrid to face Diego Simeone’s Atletico in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.
Europe’s top prize has long eluded Juventus, but after spending over $100 million on a 33-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, expectations have never been greater. The move has paid off well so far, with the Portuguese leading the team in scoring, but another Scudetto, the club’s eighth in a row, would be scant consolation without a deep run in Europe.
That Juve have been to the final twice in the past four years — losing to Barcelona in 2015 and Ronaldo’s Real Madrid two years later — only increases the pressure. Last season, Juve’s hearts were broken by Ronaldo once again. He scored a hat-trick in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie, and put an end to a rousing Juventus comeback with a last-minute penalty in the second.
In that, at least, Atleti can relate. The Spanish side have lost two European finals and a semifinal against Ronaldo this decade, with the forward scoring on all three occasions. Simeone’s approach to shutting him down when the two sides meet on Wednesday is unlikely to surprise anyone. Atleti, led Diego Godin, will take a physical approach. The fans will be equally hostile.
But Ronaldo has experienced it all before, which is exactly why he’s so important to this team. Giorgio Chiellini, also 34 and running out of time to lift that elusive European title, knows this as well as anyone. “After so many years dominating in Italy we could think that we had reached the maximum, but thanks to Cristiano we are going beyond what we could think, to look for other limits,” he said. “We have reached two Champions League finals, but to keep growing we needed the best.”
The Juventus captain, among many others, has been inspired by the transformation in culture and work ethic the Portuguese has instilled. It’s what’s kept the club unbeaten in Serie A, and what keeps their eyes focused on winning the Champions League.
Despite having a player many consider the best, Juventus aren’t considered the best, at least not in Europe. Defeating Atletico will surely give them the confidence they need to take on the other elite sides remaining. If they want to come back to Madrid for the final, they’ll have to beat the hosts and Ronaldo will surely have a big say in the matter. Juventus have gone big for his services. Now is the time to see if their big Champions League gamble pays off.