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MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Spain ready to bury the demons of his nightmarish Champions League debut for Juventus on Wednesday (February 20th) against one of his favorite victims, Atletico Madrid.
The former Real Madrid player was ruled out after 28 minutes of his first European match against Juventus in Spain last September against Valencia, but the Italians had won 2-0, even without the Portuguese star.
Juventus de Mbadimiliano Allegri will play his first leg of the first leg against Atletico in the first leg against Atletico at Wanda Metropolitano in the middle of the week as he continues his run to the European title which escaped them during more than two decades.
Juventus hopes its summer signing of 100 million euros (117 million USD) will give it a first European win over Atletico, a team against which the winner of the Golden Ball five times has a long history.
It will be a homecoming for Ronaldo, 34, who lived close to the training center of Atletico.
Juventus signed Ronaldo because of his references in the Champions League.
No player has as many Champions League titles as Ronaldo who has won five, four with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United.
He scored a record 121 goals in the competition, 57 of which were decisive.
"We have to score at least one goal in Madrid, our qualification depends on it," said Allegri. "Both teams are balanced."
Ronaldo has starred in each of his previous five European triumphs – from his head for United against Chelsea in 2008 to the penalty-equal, penalty in the 97th minute against Juventus last season.
Meanwhile, he had scored 17 goals en route to the trophy in 2014, the winning penalty against Atletico in 2016 and the hat trick against the same opponent, this time in the last four, a year later.
He also scored twice against Juventus in the final.
It was to become the beneficiaries, rather than the victims, of those winning moments, as Juve decided that the only way to win the Champions League before Ronaldo retired is to have him in. his team.
Juventus won the title in 1985 and 1996, but has been fifth five times since, including two in the last four years.
HEAVY AMENDE
Ronaldo's goal form has not been reduced despite recent controversies, including accusations of rape brought against him by an American, which he vehemently denies.
The last time he was in Madrid, he was scheduled to appear last month in a court in the Spanish capital for charges of tax evasion.
Ronaldo avoided the prison, but was sentenced to pay 3.57 million euros for committing tax evasion at Real Madrid, as part of a larger payment of 18.8 million euros. ; euro.
Cristiano Ronaldo's last visit to Madrid was to answer accusations of tax evasion. (Photo: AFP / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU)
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment which was immediately reduced to a fine of 365,000 euros and another sentence of 3.2 million euros.
Nevertheless, Ronaldo is at the top in Serie A where he leads with 19 goals scored in 24 games. He totals 21 goals in all competitions, including one against the former Manchester United club, with 11 badists.
Allegri relies on his internal knowledge against Atletico.
During his nine years at Real Madrid, Ronaldo played on average four times a year at Atletico, mainly in the Liga but also in two Champions League finals, both won by Real.
He has scored 22 goals in 31 games against Atletico and also has a record of 100% with eight converted penalties, his best record against a team.
Of the four European titles won in five years with Real, Atletico has succumbed three times to rivals in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
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