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Cristiano Ronaldo faces his favorite rival in the UCL

By Rafael Trujillo

Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Newcastle at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 11, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Newcastle at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 11, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on February 15, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on February 15, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

The Champions League round of 16 continues with Cristiano Ronaldo facing a familiar foe in Atlético de Madrid

There’s no doubt Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best, if not the best scorer in football history. During his career, the Portuguese has dominated most teams he has faced. But there’s something about the Colchoneros that make him give his best in almost every game he has played. Now, he has a new chance to score against his archival, as Manchester United look to keep advancing in the Champions League.

In 35 games against Atlético, Ronaldo has managed to score 25 goals, second most against one team, only two less than his record against Sevilla.

His first goal against the Spaniards came in his third meeting in a Copa del Rey fixture in the quarter-finals. After 60 minutes, the match was tied at one. That’s when Cristiano showed up to give his team the advantage, one they would keep until the end of the game. Seven days later, he would score the only goal in the second leg game sending Real Madrid to the semifinals, and eventually lifted his first title with the Merengues.

When we start talking about the Champions League, the story is the same. Cristiano has played in 10 games against Atlético. He’s been part of 10 goals (seven goals, three assists) for both Real Madrid and  Juventus.

Most of us will remember his goal in the 2013-14 Champions League final. The Portuguese netted a penalty in the 120th minute, putting the last nail in Atlético’s coffin. Cristiano’s goal wasn’t that important as the score was already 3-1 in Real Madrid’s favor, but the image of the star celebrating without his jersey will always be remembered.

Ronaldo then scored two of his four hat-tricks against Atlético in the Champions League. The first one came in May 17, 2017. That was the fourth year in a row both teams faced each other since the already mentioned final in Lisbon. The Portuguese didn’t score in the previous three encounters (except for the penalty shootout in the final a year prior) but he got even that season by almost single-handedly sending Real Madrid to their second final in a row.

The other hat-trick in the UCL was his last one against the Colchoneros. It came in his first season as a Juventus player. The Vecchia Signora faced Atlético in the round of 16. Surprisingly, the Spaniards took the lead in the series by beating Juventus 2-0 in the first leg. The series looked over as Atlético under Simeone know how to defend a lead. However, in the second leg, Ronaldo scored three times to send Atletico back home eliminated.

Ronaldo is also right on the birth of history for the second time. If he manages to score against Atlético de Madrid in either game of the series, he will now have scored against the Spaniards in the Champions League playing for three different teams.

The Portuguese is the only player to ever achieve something like this. He did it against Olympique Lyon scoring for Manchester United in the 2007-08 season, Real Madrid in the 2009-10 season and finally with Juventus in the 2019-20 season.

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Ronaldo hasn’t been as effective this season as previous years but still leads Manchester United with six goals. Maybe a series against the Spanish champions is what he needs to get back on track and take United on a deep run this season.

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