Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Spain ready to bury the demons of his nightmare Champions League debut for Juventus on Wednesday against one of his favourite victims Atletico Madrid.
The former Real Madrid player was sent off after 28 minutes in his first European game for Juventus in Spain last September against Valencia but the Italians went on to win 2-0 even without the Portuguese star.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus play their Champions League last 16, first-leg tie against Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano midweek as they continue their push for the European title which has eluded them for over two decades.
Juventus are pinning their hopes on their 100-million-euro ($117m) summer signing to give them a first European win over Atletico, a team against whom the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has a long history.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for the 34-year-old Ronaldo who lived a stone’s throw away from Atletico’s training centre.
Juventus signed Ronaldo because of his Champions League credentials.
No player owns as many Champions League titles as Ronaldo who has won five, four with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United.
