Manchester United suffered a first defeat of the Champions League campaign as Italian superpower Juventus kept up their 100 per cent in Group H with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
He plays on the left, he plays on the right, that boy Ronaldo made – well, you know the rest. At Manchester United, they certainly do.
Now they know what it feels like to be on the end of one of those performances by Cristiano Ronaldo, too. Left, right, through the middle, each positional switch causing its own problems, each change showing up the limitations of the local heroes.
They've had some wonderful players around these parts, but not one like him, not lately. Fortunes have been spent trying to find a special presence but there really is only one Ronaldo. Juventus have bought him because they think it might win them the Champions League – and, you know, it just might.
Paulo Dybala fired Juventus into the lead from close range after Manchester United failed to clear a Cristiano Ronaldo cross
Dybala celebrates in typical fashion in front of the home supporters after his 17th minute goal at Old Trafford
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with Dybala on his return to Manchester United as a Juventus player on Tuesday night
Ronaldo sinks to his knees in celebration after Juventus' narrow victory was confirmed by the final whistle
Ecstatic Juventus players jump for joy after the final whistle confirmed their victory over Manchester United
Jose Mourinho shows his frustration from the touchline as Manchester United limped to defeat at home against Juventus
Our graphic shows how poor United defending allowed Ronaldo huge amounts of time and space to shoot in the second half
Yet in football terms, they are no longer equals, and the Italians were far superior technically. It isn't just the arrival of Ronaldo that has made them so, either. Their defence is tighter, their forwards more mobile. Juve's movement made United look pedestrian, laboured.
It was clearly the plan to initially absorb pressure and strike on the counter attack but that approach brought minimal success. When they did get deep into Juve's half, Massimiliano Allegri's well organised back line made important interventions and unleashed counters of their own. Theirs were better.
It certainly helps to have Ronaldo as an outlet. He started on the left, played through the middle, then switched to the right, and a goal soon followed. It came after 18 minutes, by which time Juventus had already come close. The outstanding Joao Cancelo, an overlapping full-back of the modern kind, whipped in a lovely cross that was met by Dybala, steering his header wide.
He wouldn't be as wasteful the next time. Five minutes later, when Ronaldo exploited the space between Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof, the Argentine striker was the beneficiary. The cross was aimed near post where Cuadrado was kept out by Chris Smalling, but the ball went lose and Dybala was quicker to react than the sluggish Lindelof.
It was a straightforward chance and he made it look so – a smart finish that left the recovering de Gea no chance. It was no more than Juventus deserved, and Dybala, too. It took his total in the Champions League this season to four in three matches – the most explosive start in this competition by any Juventus players since Alessandro De Piero in 1997-98.
Ronaldo has his head in his hands after his powerful effort is palmed behind by David de Gea in the second half
And although Ronaldo and co couldn't find another way past David De Gea, this was still a solid masterclass from the Serie A leaders and a bit of a lesson for United.
The Reds came into the European battle with confidence restored, following the thrilling second-half comeback against Newcastle United in the last home match before the international break and the impressive draw at Chelsea last Saturday.
Ashley Young keeps a close eye on Cristiano Ronaldo
Juventus were also in powerful form, both at home and abroad. This season they have recently set a club record of ten straight wins at the start of a season and are five points ahead in the Serie A race for the Scudetto. In the Champions League the Bianconeri have won both their group matches against Valencia and Young Boys.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side certainly started this match like a side having a barnstorming opening to the campaign. Despite dropping their first league points in Italy last Saturday, in the home draw in Turin with Genoa, they were on it from the first whistle at Old Trafford.
When Ronaldo first returned to the stadium, with Real Madrid in March 2013, he scored the winner to ruin Sir Alex Ferguson’s hopes of a grandstand finish in Europe. But before he settled down on that night, he was as nervous as a kitten and was overdoing the tricks in an effort to impress. This time around it was different. With a few Ballon d’Ors under his belt from the last five years, the now 33-year-old wasn’t overawed as he began this game in Juventus colours.
Despite Ashley Young and Chris Smalling handing out early 'welcome back' messages, the Portuguese superstar soaked it up and was vitally instrumental in Juve taking a 17th-minute lead.
Ronaldo crossed from the right and when Smalling and Cuadrado challenged at the near post, the ball squirted loose for Paulo Dybala to snap up the gift of a straightforward finish.
It was a difficult opening for the home fans as the Italians forced the Reds on the back foot.
Only an early Young free-kick, met by a Paul Pogba header, interrupted the flow of black-and-white traffic heading constantly towards the Stretford End.
David De Gea kept the score down with a double save in the 38th minute. The Old Trafford crowd had recognised the trademark gunslinger stance as Ronaldo lined up a free kick and as his shot twisted and turned in the air, the United goalkeeper read it but the power forced him to parry. Blaise Matuidi, following up, sent in a rasping effort but the Spaniard had his number as well and pushed the ball away to safety.
United had become a second-half team in the last two matches and the stadium was hoping the Reds might be able to respond after the interval. Juventus had other ideas, though, and the break did nothing to quell their superiority.
Once again it was thanks to De Gea that the Italians were still in reach. The ‘keeper got a touch on a typical Ronaldo thunderbolt after 52 minutes to stop the no.7 celebrating goal at Old Trafford again.
The Reds needed a spark and the fans needed something to get their teeth into to lift a side who were under the cosh. A spell of intensity from United raised the temperature but they still couldn’t really trouble former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and with experienced defensive warriors Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini in front of him, a breakthrough was proving extremely difficult.
Juventus team
Former Juventus star Pogba almost shook his old club when he let fly with a long-range shot that came back off the base of the post and struck Szczesny before going out for a corner in the 74th minute. United were only briefly at full tilt, however, and Juve couldn’t be breached with only a weak Anthony Martial low shot suggesting there might be a dramatic climax in the offing.
In the end Juventus proved just too strong and too experienced on this elite European stage for the Reds.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): de Gea 7; Young 6.5, Lindelof 5.5, Smalling 6, Shaw 5.5; Pogba 5, Matic 5.5; Rashford 5.5, Mata 5, Martial 5.5; Lukaku 5
Subs not used: Romero, Bailly, Andreas Pereira, Fred, Ander Herrera, Darmian, Chong
Booked: Young
Manager: Jose Mourinho 5
Juventus (4-3-3): Szczesny 6; Joao Cancelo 7 (Douglas Costa 87), Bonucci 7, Chiellini 7, Alex Sandro 6.5; Bentancur 6.5, Pjanic 7, Matuidi 6; Cuadrado 8 (Barzagli 81), Dybala 7.5 (Bernardeschi 78), Ronaldo 7.5
Subs not used: Perin, De Sciglio, Benatia, Kean
Goalscorers: Dybala 17
Booked: Matuidi, Chiellini
Manager: Massimiliano Allegri 7
Referee: Milorad Mazic
Ratings by Joe Bernstein
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