JUVENTUS begin their Champions League campaign with a difficult trip to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev.
The Old Lady is desperate to end their long wait for a European trophy, with their last triumph coming way back in 1996.
Juventus are without Ronaldo for their trip to UkraineCredit: Reuters
But they will have to find a way past the Ukrainian champions without Cristiano Ronaldo who sits this Champions League opener out.
Why isn’t Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Juventus?
Ronaldo will hope this is finally the year he can inspire the Turin-based side to end their long wait to lift Big Ears again.
Juventus have been runners-up in the Champions League three times since the turn of the century.
And this year they’ve been put in a group with Barcelona, Ferencvaros and Dynamo.
Ronaldo played for Portugal in their draw with France during the international break and was expected to feature against Sweden.
But the former Man Utd and Real Madrid star returned a positive test for Covid-19 and left Portugal’s training camp.
He is currently self isolating and has reportedly displayed no symptoms.
Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo posted a picture on Instagram of him relaxing by his pool during isolationCredit: instagram.com/cristiano
Ronaldo travelled from Portugal to Turin on a private air ambulance – but hit back at suggestions he’s broken protocol in the process.
CR7 said: “I did not break any protocol.
“They’re saying that I broke Italian laws but it’s all a lie.
“I spoke with my team and we have the responsibility to do things right.
“Everything was done with authorisation. Principally for the Italian man (Italian sports minister Vincenzo Spadaforo) whose name I’m not going to say, it’s a lie, I abided by all the protocols.”
When will he return to action?
Ronaldo is definitely out for the game against Dynamo Kiev after returning a positive test on Tuesday, October 13.
It looks likely that he will also miss the Serie A clash against Verona on October 25.
And his long-awaited meeting with Barcelona and Lionel Messi could also be in doubt, as Uefa protocol requires a player to test negative seven days before a game.
To play in the clash with the Catalan giants, Ronaldo will need to test negative for coronavirus by Wednesday, October 21.
If he doesn’t, he’s likely to make his Juventus return at Spezia on November 1.
Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Italy after testing positive for coronavirus
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
