It was a night, which witnessed the quality of Pep Guardiola’s approach in the final third – tore Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid apart. Manchester City never stopped attacking and finished their dinner with the boys wearing pink shirts – no intent, no fight and so many mistakes. Pep won’t spare you for a second.
Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo. He broke the 95-year old record. But Lyon go through on aggregate. This had been an eventful match. Congratulations Lyon. pic.twitter.com/oKdF41kRzm
— Faisal Caesar (@faisalyorker1) August 7, 2020
Manchester was painted Blue, but in Turin, the silence was evident as Lyon painted Italy with their colours. Juventus would not feature in the quarterfinals and since 2010, the Champions League would not witness its favourite son – Cristiano Ronaldo – in the final eight.
The one thing Juventus and Real Madrid were needed to do and which was not to concede at first hand because it would diminish the chances further.
When the Raphael Varane disasterclass was on show in Manchester, Houssem Aouar saw a low volley touched around the post by Wojciech Szczesny and the first penalty soon followed after the same man appeared to be tripped by Federico Bernardeschi just before a lunging Rodrigo Bentancur swept the ball away.
Most Champions League knockout goals by a Juventus player in the club’s history:
1. Del Piero – 11
2. Trézéguet – 8
3. CRISTIANO RONALDO – 7*Cristiano Ronaldo is already 3rd & has only played 6 (SIX) knockout games. pic.twitter.com/eHf9ZFASyU
— TC. (@totalcristiano) August 8, 2020
The spot-kick stood following a VAR review and Depay kept his cool to dink a finish down the centre of the goal before Juve finally kicked into gear.
But, Juve were not like the boys in the pink shirt.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 100% of Juventus' goals in the UCL playoff stage since joining Juventus. [@Juve_France] pic.twitter.com/FBIGFumu6L
— Juventus News – Juvefc.com (@juvefcdotcom) August 7, 2020
They regrouped and played with the intent to win.
Who else, but CR7 stepped to take the matter in his own hand.
A sublime last-ditch challenge from Marcelo denied Bernardeschi an open goal and Ronaldo then directed a stooping header over the crossbar.
@Cristiano has scored ALL SEVEN (100%) of Juventus’ goals in the UCL KO Stages in the last 2 yr
No help broken?? and has now broken the record for the most goals scored in a single season for
Juventus (36) #juventuslyon#JuveLione #ChampionsLeague
A record which stood for 95yr pic.twitter.com/t4kZWVKvtY— ᴜⁿᵃᵖᵒˡᵒᵍᵉᵗⁱᶜ ᴋⁱᵈᵈʸ (@LyfstyleKid) August 7, 2020
Anthony Lopes’ strong right hand superbly kept out Ronaldo’s free-kick, but the next intervention came from the arm of Depay. Miralem Pjanic’s set-piece bounced away off the goalscorer’s elbow, prompting a second harsh spot-kick which Ronaldo tucked away.
Just as Juve were toiling approaching the hour mark, Ronaldo came to the fore once more and unleashed a blistering left-footed strike that Lopes could only help into the top-right corner.
Next time legend @Cristiano do it better and don't think your guys will help you out, you see what happens, by the way congrats for breaking the record of Juventus for over 95 years ago, see you in the competition again Ronaldo ???? pic.twitter.com/RyctF1CSeO
— Oyedepo10 (@OkoreeD) August 8, 2020
Ronaldo centred for Gonzalo Higuain to head over before the two-goal star was wasteful from a similar position after Juve had called for Paulo Dybala from the bench.
Maurizio Sarri’s risk in throwing on a half-fit forward failed.
His midfield produced little and it was only CR7, who ran the show.
Lyon clung on to their narrow lead and one would certainly feel sorry for CR7, who gave his all to save the night for Juve.
No Cristiano Ronaldo in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
The world is changing!
