Lyon advance, Champions League will lose its charm without Cristiano Ronaldo

It was a night, which witnessed the quality of Pep Guardiola’s approach in the final third – Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid were tore apart. Manchester City never stopped attacking and finished their dinner with the boys wearing pink shirts – no intent, no fight and so many mistakjes. Pep won’t spare you for a second.

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.

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 pink shirt.

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.

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.

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 mid field 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!

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 08/08/2020 Lyon advance, Champions League will lose its charm without Cristiano Ronaldo

Thank You

Faisal Caesar