Ronaldo heroics not enough to save Juventus [Highlights]

Cristiano Ronaldo’s heroics were not enough to save Juventus from an early UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Olympique Lyon.

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3 Cristiano Ronaldo – $120 million Ronaldo became the first person in the world to reach 500 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in February and followed that up a month later by surpassing Brazilian legend Pelé’s all-time goal tally, reaching 770 across all competitions with a hat trick in a Juventus win over Cagliari. The 36-year-old, whose four-year contract is worth an average of $64 million annually and expires in 2022, has a lifetime deal with Nike and is behind the CR7 business of branded clothing, accessories, hotels and gyms.

A brace by Cristiano Ronaldo was not enough to save Juventus from a shocking last-16 exit in the UEFA Champions League against Olympique Lyon on Friday night.

The UEFA Champions League returned for the first time since March 2020 with the remaining last-16 second-leg fixtures. Lyon headed to Turin with a slender 1-0 advantage however not even an inspired Ronaldo performance could save The Old Lady.

Depay lands killer blow

Lyon captain Memphis Depay calmly slotted home a penalty in the 12th minute to hand the visitors a crucial away goal leaving Juventus with just under 80 minutes to score three goals.

Depay’s penalty proved to be the difference in the tie with Lyon booking their place in the last-eight courtesy of the away goal rule after the tied ended in a 2-2 final aggregate scoreline.

Ronaldo to remain at Juventus next season

Juventus President Andrea Agnelli has insisted that his star player Cristiano Ronaldo will stay with the club next season despite their shocking Champions League exit.

“He’s going to stay with us,” Agnelli told SkySports.
“I’m sure that Cristiano will play for Juventus next season. He’s a pillar of this team. This season has been evidently bittersweet. It has been a very difficult campaign, we achieved a great result winning our ninth consecutive campaign and wrote a fantastic chapter in the history books.
“In the Champions League, obviously, it’s disappointing for us, for the players and the fans. As I said several times in recent years, the Champions league was a dream, now it has to be an objective.”

Happiest defeat of my career – Garcia

Lyon head coach Rudi Garcia called Lyon’s loss to Juventus “the happiest defeat of my career” as his side earned a place in the Champions League last-eight.

“I realize the achievement that we did. I know where we are today, because I’ve been here a few times with AS Roma,” Garcia told RMC Sports.
“Playing against Juve is not only the best club in Italy, but also a team that wanted to win the Champions League. It’s one of the most satisfying moments of my career and getting past Juventus really is an exploit.”

Lyon now turn their attention to Manchester City who they’ll face next week saturday in the last-eight of the UEFA Champions League in a single-legged clash in Lisbon.