Menzi Magubane
While legendary Italian team, Juventus have dominated Serie A, winning nine consecutive titles from 2012 to 2020, this coming May marks 25 years since Juventus last lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy.
And to make the evasion even more painful, since winning the trophy in 1996, beating Ajax Amsterdam on penalties, they have played in five finals and lost. Losing to Borussia Dortmund (1997), Real Madrid (1998 and 2017), AC Milan (2003) and Barcelona (2015).
On Wednesday, at the Estadio Do Dragoa, Portugal at 10pm, they face 2004 champions FC Porto in the round of 16, the same stage at which they were eliminated last season.
Juve’s star man, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 23 goals in 26 matches this season and he will be hoping his form will continue on Wednesday..
Former AC Milan centre-back Alessandro Costacurta praised the 36-year-old Ronaldo saying the Bianconeri do not play for Ronaldo but with Ronaldo.
“He is very good at being in the right place. He has the ability to get rid of a man like no one in the world,” said Costacurta on Juventus website.
According to Transfermarket Ronaldo scores a goal every 90 minutes of game time in the Champions League and every 96 minutes in the league.
Meanwhile, Porto are looking at emulating the class of 2004 that lifted this trophy. Jose Mourinho was the coach back then and Benni McCarthy was one of his players. Last season Porto did not make it to this competition and they would definitely want to mark their return with a victory over Juventus.
The other match on Wednesday is between Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan at 10pm.
Picture source: @timelineCR7
