It’s been weeks since the utterly wonderful Champions League round of 16 match pitting Atletico Madrid and Juventus. The two legs were two wonderful games of football.

In the first leg, Atletico had established a commanding lead and also prevented Juve an away goal. Everything was looking good, it seemed like they had one leg in the quarter-final already. Then up steps Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best footballer on the planet. He grabbed the tie by the scruff of the neck.

Cristiano Ronaldo was facing trial during this period, yet he was unfazed by the situation. There was a chat with Pratice Evra revealing that Cristiano was very confident of overturning the first leg deficit. This kind of mentality is what is needed from everybody, this ‘never say die’ attitude

For whatever reason he was silent in the first leg, maybe he got bored of always winning and just wanted another epic Champions League night in the return fixture.

It wasn’t a miracle that happened in Turin, Cristiano Ronaldo happened. He was facing trial due to a rape case, his mother was sick and yet nobody expected less of him. Everyone knew exactly what they were going to get from him, desire, passion and hard work and he displayed all of this which effectively drove his team forward. A man that has won the Champions League five times still has the drive to win more. What a man! Little wonder Real Madrid players have been criticised of being complacent since his departure, a man like that effectively motivates the whole team and in his absence, they lack the personnel to motivate them.

You can be excused for saying that it was his attitude and mentality that effectively catalysed the reaction from other players in the squad. The likes of Federico Bernadeschi, Cancelo, Emre Can and Spinazolla just to mention a few, performed excellenty. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the three goals but they all did well to create these goals and also stay solid enough to shut out Atletico who were poor on the night. They hardly tested the Juve goalie. One performance that must also be highlighted is that of Federico Bernadeschi. A lot eyebrows must have been raised when he started ahead of Dybala but he eliminated all those doubts with his wonderful performances on the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Bernadeschi, a partnership that may yet grow…

Cristiano Ronaldo has already delivered this kind of performance in the Champions League once and he did it again. The funny thing is, everybody was expecting him to do it again and he duly delivered. So it wasn’t a miracle that happened in Turin, it was Cristiano Ronaldo, a gift that keeps on giving!