Juventus feeling Ronaldo's absence

Ronaldo made a typically blistering start to the season with three goals in Juventus' first two games but he has not been involved since 27 September after testing positive for coronavirus.

The Italians are certainly feeling his absence having now managed to win just once in the four games without him.

They lacked a real cutting edge against Barcelona, failing to register a single shot on target in the entirety of this game.

The hosts may feel aggrieved that Morata had every one of his strikes ruled out, but ultimately Barcelona were deserved winners for a dominant display.

Stats

  • Barcelona have only suffered one defeat in their last 18 Uefa Champions League group stage games on the road, going unbeaten in each of the last 11.
  • Juventus' loss to Barcelona was just their second home defeat in their last 25 Champions League group stage games, the other a 2-1 loss to Manchester United in November 2018.
  • Juventus failed to record a shot on target in a Champions League home game for the first time since 2003-04 (when Opta have this data available).
  • Merih Demiral was the 22nd different Juventus player to be sent off in the Champions League, with the Italian side receiving seven more red cards than any other side in the competition (27).
  • Since the start of last season, no player has been caught offside on more occasions in the Champions League than Álvaro Morata (13).
  • Ousmane Dembele's goal was his first strike scored from outside the box for Barcelona in all competitions since September 2018 against PSV, also in the Champions League. His previous 11 goals had all been inside.
  • Since Lionel Messi's first Champions League campaign in 2004-05, only Cristiano Ronaldo (38) has provided more assists in the competition than the Argentine (35).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Defensive Powerhouse: Nnamdi Frank, Lobi Stars and Nigeria's Rising Star

Image
As the world of football continues to evolve, new talents emerge to captivate audiences and inspire greatness. Meet Nnamdi Frank, the Nigerian central defender/right back making waves in African football. Nnamdi's impressive resume boasts stints with Warri Wolves Feeder Team, J Atete Football Club, Warri Wolves FC, Cotton Sports of Benin Republic, and Dragon FC of Benin Republic. He has also represented Nigeria at various youth levels, including Nigeria U-13, Nigeria U-15, and was called up to Nigeria's Flying Eagles (U-20). On the pitch, Nnamdi Frank is a force to be reckoned with, boasting strong ball-playing abilities, agility, quick reflexes, endurance, and stamina. His versatility and vision make him an invaluable asset to any team. Off the pitch, Nnamdi enjoys swimming, gyming, photography, and reading. These hobbies relax him and sharpen his focus and discipline. Nnamdi's dedication, discipline, and passion for football make him a standout player. His ability to adap
Read more

Sports Journalists In Aba Honor Finidi George in Post-Afcon Reception.

Image
Members of the Aba Sports Journalists Forum(ASJ)  came out in their numbers to a dinner, to welcome and honour Ex-international and  Super Eagles assistant coach, Finidi George after the exploits of the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoir. The dinner which was hosted by Finidi George, who is also Enyimba's coach had journalists from different media outlets asking Finidi questions about his AFCON experiences, the Super Eagles, Enyimba and his time as a player and other questions on his experience as coach of the current NPFL Champions.  It was a moment to relax, learn and hear from the legend who has won the AFCON Gold, Silver and Bronze medal as player and coach.  The former Ajax winger would be in charge of his first game at Enyimba since returning from the AFCON when Enyimba host Gombe United on Thursday afternoon. 
Read more

CAF Disciplinary Committee Awards Three Points and Three Goals to Super Eagles*

Image
In a significant development, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Committee has awarded three points and three goals to Nigeria's Super Eagles following a disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya. According to a letter signed by Ousmane Kane, Chairperson of the CAF Disciplinary Board, Libya breached Article 31 of the AFCON regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF disciplinary code. Consequently, Libya has been fined $50,000, payable within 60 days. This ruling propels the Super Eagles to the top of their qualifying group with 10 points from four matches, a comfortable four-point lead over second-placed Benin. A draw against Benin in Abidjan next month will secure the Super Eagles' spot at the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to take place in Morocco in December 2025. The current standings in the qualifying group are: 1. Nigeria (Super Eagles) - 10 points 2. Benin - 6 points 3. Rwanda - 5 points 4. Libya - 1 point (eliminated) Li
Read more