With the arrival of Pirlo, Juventus has experienced many ups and downs, which have led them to move away from the top of the table, putting their hegemony in Calcio at risk for the first time after nine titles in a row. One of the few certainties of the Bianconeri in this course, however, has a first and last name: Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese is keeping up with the rhythms of his best years. He has already scored 25 goals with three assists in 28 appearances, and is the capocannoniere of Serie A with 18 goals, one more than Romelu Lukaku. The Pichichi del Calcio title would be the umpteenth for his collection, which is still missing (in 2019 it was won by Quagliarella, in 2020 by Immobile).
Sofascore
Yesterday, with the double against Crotone, the Portuguese has added 78 rivals to whom he scored goals in the top leagues in Europe. As the Opta published, only Ibrahimovic (79) has done better in the last 21 years. In January he became the best scorer of all time (now he has 765 goals), but his hunger for records is insatiable.
What was very clear is that Juventus, to continue succeeding, needs him 100%. The Bianconeri never lost when the ex-Madridista scored goals, and in the decisive appointments they clung to his talent. A goal of his served to put the final of the Super Cup downhill, while his double at San Siro was the one that eliminated Inter in the Cup semifinal.
Pirlo never gave him rest, since when the forward is not there, it is a serious problem. It happened, for example, in the disappointing draws with Crotone, Verona (in which it was absent due to covid) and Benevento. With Spezia, on the other hand, the 'Maestro' discarded him from the starting 11, but needed his help to avoid another setback. He jumped onto the field in the last half hour with 1-1 on the scoreboard and the crash ended 1-4, with a double of his.
Since December, Cristiano has played every minute of the league, saving only eight from 4-0 with Parma. Despite his 36 years, the forward shows an exceptional state of form that allows the technician to use him practically always. Without him, it is too difficult for Juve to win, and now they will need him more than ever.
La Vecchia Signora must come from eight points (with one game less) to regain the leadership of Calcio held by Inter, and need to turn the scoreboard with Porto to avoid another European failure. In Do Dragao, Cristiano did not shine, but in the last play of the match he forced a foul in the area that looked like a clear penalty, denied by Del Cerro Grande. The maximum penalty could be worth 2-2 that would have changed the history of the tie. It is that when CR7 plays, Juve is always hopeful. Also on the blackest nights.
'Pique' with Haaland and Mbappé
And that unfortunate crash in Portugal, together with the exhibitions of Haaland and Mbappé, it seems that they have served as a springboard to further enhance the forward's voracity. The Norwegian and the French opposed the throne that Messi and Cristiano have held for so many years with their exhibitions against Seville and Barcelona. Given that, with the whole planet debating about the newcomers, the Portuguese wanted to remember that he is still installed on Olympus. Also, as we said, He has not yet been a capocannoniere and achieving that challenge also exerts fuel.
Lukaku pressured him and overtook him after his exhibition against Milan and Cristiano showed that reactive character that has made him compete with Messi over the years. Double and at the top of the scorers table again. In the first opportunity he had to bury Do Dragão's stumble, remind the young people that the veterans have not left and Lukaku that if he wants to be top scorer in Serie A he will have to sweat a lot, CR7 put on his gunner outfit again.