Ronaldo brace sees Juve crush Messi's troubled Barcelona
Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice from the penalty spot to win his battle with rival Lionel Messi and guide Juventus to a 3-0 win over Barcelona on Tuesday, earning the Italians top place in Champions League Group G.
The former True Madrid striker and his Argentina counterpart traded Ballon d'Or wins for ten years between 2008-2017 and were figureheads for the duelling Spanish giants, but there was only one winner at the Camp Nou as they met for the very first time since Ronaldo's departure for Juve in 2018.
Andrea Pirlo's Juventus shed 2-0 in the home against Barcelona found in October without Ronaldo, sidelined with Covid-19, but were greatly improved and earned the 1st Champions League away gain against Barcelona since Bayern Munich triumphed found in 2013.
Both sides, tied on 15 points, were assured of qualification before kick-off, but Juve's three-goal victory handed them an excellent head-to-head record.
Ronald Koeman, reeling from Barcelona's 2-1 defeat by promoted minnows Cadiz on Saturday found in La Liga, reacted by building four changes however the hosts started badly.
It only took 13 minutes for Ronaldo to break the deadlock, slotting house from the penalty area following the referee deemed Ronald Araujo's challenge in him a foul.
Juventus didn't relent and their pressure resulted in another goal, US midfielder Weston Mckenzie volleying residence Juan Cuadrado's sweetly clipped cross found in the 20th minute.
The Catalans and their captain Messi finally woke from their slumber, as the attacker had one effort blocked by Matthijs de Ligt and another saved by veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, while Pjanic lashed over the bar.
Ronaldo notched his second from the penalty location in the 52nd minute immediately after Clement Lenglet handled clumsily in the region, mainly because the hosts imploded.
Antoine Griezmann, who was invisible in the first half, grazed the crossbar with a looping header from a Messi free kick, and Buffon beat out another work, with De Ligt's pressure more than enough to avoid Martin Braithwaite converting the rebound.
Leonardo Bonucci had a fourth goal eliminated for offside after he tapped in Ronaldo's effort from close selection, with Messi trying in vain at the other end to reply Ronaldo, but he found the 42-year-aged Buffon in his way time and time again.
