Recall how Cristiano Ronaldo destroyed Atlético Madrid. Can he do it again?

Atlético Madrid’s biggest nightmare? Cristiano Ronaldo. Only four times in history has it happened that the Diego Simeone-led Colchoneros have scored a hat-trick and each time it was Cristiano Ronaldo. Can the Portuguese phenom do it again in the Champions League eighth round?

Three times at Real Madrid and once at Juventus. Those are Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-tricks against Atlético Madrid. Especially the last one in the Turin big club is very much stuck in the memory of all fans.

It was, after all, the Champions League eighth-final, Ronaldo’s first knockout stage with Juventus. Atlético beat the Old Lady 2-0 at home, and given the excellent defensive performance of the Colchoneros, the fans thought that they would not get 3 goals and therefore already advanced.

When Ronaldo was booed at the Wanda Metropolitano, he showed five fingers to the fans, a sign of his five Champions League titles. Simeone, on the other hand, celebrated the goal by pointing between his legs like he has big balls.

Ronaldo chose the same response as he left the stadium through the press area. “I’ve won the Champions League five times, Atlético not once. I’ll see you in the rematch,” the Madrid man warned.

The fans, however, were convinced that they were already assured of promotion and were teasing their long-time rival. “Cristiano! 5 what? Go to sleep. Five what?” asked an Atlético fan. “Cry, cry, go back to Turin and cry. 2:0, it’s over, you’re out,” another Colchoneros supporter told him. “Go to Italy and don’t come back here, ” another Indios fan said confidently.

But Ronaldo had his revenge in the rematch. First, he scored in the first half when he headed in Bernardeschi’s centre. In the second half, he scored again with a header after a Cancelo centre and the score was level. But it wasn’t over yet, Bernardeschi was fouled in the whitewash and Ronaldo made the turnaround from the penalty, which he set up himself.

And he didn’t forgive himself for Simeone’s celebration from the first leg, which he returned.

As fate would have it, Atlético will have to face Cristiano Ronaldo again. In a repeat of the draw, the Indios were drawn against Manchester United in the eighth round. Overall, it’s probably a more acceptable opponent than Bayern Munich, but the Ronaldo factor is huge. And the Portuguese is likely to be at his best again against his favourite rival.

Source: Twitter, Livesport