With Juventus in requirement of a Champions League miracle in the round of 16 for a second straight season, Cristiano Ronaldo did what he could to attempt to provide it– only for Juve to come up just short.
Juventus entered the second leg against Lyon on Friday needing to recuperate from a 1-0 loss in the very first leg some five months back. Memphis Depays penalty shot offered Lyon an early away objective, which needed Juventus to score 3 objectives if it was to avoid being eliminated– the exact same scenario it faced last season versus Atletico Madrid, when Ronaldos hat technique sent Juve through.
Ronaldo started the comeback in the 43rd minute by transforming a charge kick..
He then brought Juventus level on aggregate– but tracking on the tiebreaker– in the 60th minute in astonishing fashion. He lined up a 25-yard shot with his left foot and tucked it inside the post, making it 2-1 Juventus on the day and 2-2 on total objectives with the record 130th Champions League tally of his profession.
He really nearly got the 3rd in the 76th minute, heading a corner kick just over the bar.
It wasnt to be, though, with Juventus unable to find that third objective and going out on that away-goal tiebreaker. Lyon goes through to the quarterfinals in Portugal, where it will deal with Manchester City– a 4-2 aggregate winner over Real Madrid.
