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'Fired up': Ronaldo ready for crucial Champions League clash

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·2-min read
Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) looking on after a Juventus match.
Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) is 'fired up' for the Champions League second-leg against Porto, according to coach Pirlo. (Getty Images)

Juventus legend and coach Andrea Pirlo claimed Cristiano Ronaldo was 'fired up' for the clash against Porto in their second-leg tie of the Champions League.

All eyes will be on Ronaldo and Pirlo as the pair try to mastermind European success, which has alluded the Italian giants for a number of years.

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Ronaldo helped Juventus clinch their ninth straight Serie A title in a row last year, but coach Maurizio Sarri was sacked after failing in Europe.

The former Real Madrid forward was brought into Juventus to help try and bring that European pedigree he was exuding at the Spanish giants.

But was unable to help Juventus as they remain on two European Cups, which were won in 1985 and 1996.

They currently trail Porto 2-1 in the leg, but were able to score an away goal to give the team hope.

The importance of the clash was also highlighted on the weekend when Pirlo opted to rest their talisman.

Pirlo backs Ronaldo

Despite concern to why Ronaldo sat our the weekend's Serie A match, Pirlo reassured fans the forward was ready to put on a show.

“Cristiano is fine, these are his matches. He’s fired up, he’s been able to rest and can’t wait," Pirlo said in a pre-match press conference.

The writing was on the wall for Sarri last season after Juventus were surprisingly knocked out by Lyon at the last-16 stage.

Juventus' forward Cristiano Ronaldo attends a training session on the eve of the UEFA Champions League football match Juventus vs FC Porto on March 8, 2021 at the Juventus training center in Turin.
Juventus' forward Cristiano Ronaldo attends a training session on the eve of the UEFA Champions League football match Juventus vs FC Porto on March 8, 2021 at the Juventus training center in Turin. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) (MARCO BERTORELLO via Getty Images)

Andrea Pirlo is in a similar predicament this time around after they lost 2-1 away at Porto in their opening game of the knockout stage.

Pirlo knows exactly who to rely on to ensure that does not happen.

Despite his advancing years, 36-year-old Ronaldo is still Juve's talisman, as he leads the way in the Serie A goalscoring charts on 20.

He has also scored 10 goals in 10 home games for Juve in the Champions League.

with AAP

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