KEY POINTS

  • Juventus are hopeful of having Cristiano Ronaldo back before the Barcelona clash
  • Ronaldo is currently out of action after he tested positive for COVID-19
  • He scored 37 goals for Juventus last season

Juventus reportedly are hopeful of having Cristiano Ronaldo back in time for their upcoming 2020-21 Champions League clash against Lionel Messi-led FC Barcelona in Turin next week.

Ronaldo, who is currently out of action after testing positive for COVID-19, has been asymptomatic since Day 1 and the club is certain that the Portuguese player will test negative, as reported by Italian publication Calciomercato.

The report has revealed that Ronaldo underwent a COVID-19 test Wednesday, which was also the last day for Juventus to submit all the required paperwork to clear the player for their Champions League home fixture against five-time champions Barcelona. The Serie A side is awaiting an official response from UEFA.

Juventus kickstarted their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv, courtesy of a brace from Alvaro Morata. The 27-year-old Morata moved from Atletico Madrid to Juventus at the recently ended summer transfer window.

Soccer fans around the world will hope to have Ronaldo back in action as it would be for the first time that Messi and Ronaldo will face off on the pitch since the former Real Madrid superstar switched from Santiago Bernabeu to Juventus in the summer of 2018.

Even at 35, Ronaldo has been Juventus’ best player since his debut season. He scored 28 goals in his maiden season with the Serie A champions before he bettered his performance in 2019-20.

Ronaldo netted as many as 37 goals for Juventus last season, where Juventus’ next best, Paulo Dybala, had managed only 17 goals.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will renew acquaintances when Barcelona and Juventus clash in the group stage, although the Portuguese superstar is currently self-isolating with Covid-19
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will renew acquaintances when Barcelona and Juventus clash in the group stage, although the Portuguese superstar is currently self-isolating with Covid-19 AFP / Josep LAGO

Juventus, who have not won the Champions League since 1996, would want their best player to return in time for the Barcelona fixture, considering the form of Messi and his likely predecessor Ansu Fati. Barcelona got off to a super start in their Champions League campaign, thrashing Ferencvaros 5-1 at Camp Nou Tuesday. Messi and Fati scored the opening two goals for the Catalans before Philippe Coutinho, 17-year-old Pedri, and Ousmane Dembele added to the goal sheet.

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