Ronaldo outlasts rival Messi in Champions League duel

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

After two years, two of the greatest football athletes the world has ever seen shared the same pitch once again.

Cristiano Ronaldo was all systems go and got the better of ultimate rival Lionel Messi as Juventus ran over FC Barcelona, 3-0, during their Champions League duel.

It was the first time the two great booters met since Ronaldo left Real Madrid and La Liga for Juventus and the reunion rekindled their countless battles together in the top-tier Spanish football league.

However, all smiles turned to game faces soon as the whistle was blown and it was nothing but a familiar slugfest when both got entangled in the middle of the pitch, trading ball possessions.

Ronaldo seemed to get the grip of the game more than Messi as his Juventus squad was able to get their rhythm early on and forced a lot of issues against Barcelona.

The scoring column broke loose in the 13th minute when Ronaldo cruised for a goal but was fouled on the attempt and sank his penalty shot inside the stripe.

Seven minutes later, the Juventus onslaught continued after American midfielder Weston McKennie converted a short volley for a 2-0 lead.

Messi and Barcelona showed no signs of response and were completely ran over by Ronaldo’s aggressiveness as he was able to draw another foul and sink another penalty shot in the second half.

“When you have this desire to sacrifice yourself and an infallible sniper like Ronaldo, you are sure you can win these matches,” said Leonardo Bonucci, Ronaldo’s teammate.