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Turin – Juventus coach Mbadimiliano Allegri welcomed the impact Cristiano Ronaldo The Portuguese star became the first player to win 100 Champions League victories on Tuesday in the 1-0 win against Valencia, who had managed to qualify for the round of 16.
"Ronaldo gives us a sense of security and confidence," said Allegri of finalists beaten in two of the last four editions of the European elite competition.
"The team is essentially the same as last season, we grew up, we play faster, but of course we have Cristiano Ronaldo."
"This team is constantly improving, it goes and puts the game faster."
Ronaldo – who joined Juventus last summer from Real Madrid – is aiming for a sixth title in the Champions League, which adds to his four goals with the Spanish team and one with Manchester United .
The Italian team is looking for its third European title and its first since 1995.
Last season, they qualified in the quarterfinals against Real Madrid Ronaldo.
The 33-year-old played a key role against Valencia with a 59-minute badist that Croatian Mario Mandzukic scored for his third goal in as many games.
Juventus needed only one point to secure its qualification.
Their victory, combined with Manchester United's 1-0 defeat of the Young Boys at Old Trafford, led to the fall of Valencia.
The Allegri team will now have to wait to see if they lead the group H in their last group match in mid-December in Bern against the Young Boys.
& # 39; Great spirit & # 39;
Ronaldo beat all cylinders after his controversial red card in his first Champions League match for Juventus in Valencia in September, where the Allegri team still won 2-0.
The five-time winner of the Golden Ball has had two opportunities in the first three minutes to add to his record total of 121 goals in the Champions League.
Valencia had their best chance before the break when Mouctar Diakhaby's header on a corner was hit with a hand by Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Just before the hour, Ronaldo released Valencia defender Gabriel and made a very good footwork by shooting very low on the goal area, leaving Mandzukic to finish to perfection.
Valencia thought it had equalized two minutes later, but Diakhaby's head was supposed to escape.
Valenica goalkeeper Neto kept a header that would score Ronaldo, who scored the goal, allowing Paulo Dybala to take the lead.
"You can see how much we include forwards," said Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini.
"All three – Ronaldo, Mandzukic, and Dybala – really express themselves today, so if we give up like that, with the skills we have next to it, it makes things a lot easier."
"We have to turn the page now, we are going to start thinking about the Champions League from February, we need to focus on Serie A because we have a difficult month ahead," added the defender as the leaders of the championship aimed at an eighth consecutive national title.
"The match was decided by the excellent game of Cristiano," said Valencia coach Marcelino Garcia, "but our team gave it all, showing excellent morale against one of the best teams in Europe. "
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