Ronaldo steps up once again

Anonymous for the majority, but producing the goods when it really counted – we analyse Cristiano Ronaldo’s first 90 minutes of the season during a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the holders’ Champions League opener.

It was an emotional night for Ronaldo as he was reunited with the club where it all began for him. Still a boy, a shy Ronaldo left his paternal home of Madeira for the bustling metropolis of Lisbon – the start of a journey that took him to the top of the world – and the meeting with familiar faces seemed to get the better of the Real superstar on only his second start of the season.

Only Karim Benzema and goalkeeper Kiko Casilla made fewer touches than Ronaldo in the opening 45 minutes, and he bettered only two players in terms of pass completion.

Although he did muster a rasping effort from distance that stung the hands of Rui Patricio in the Sporting goal, the most worrying aspect of Ronaldo’s first-half display was his lack of attacking intent, and the sluggishness to his play – the Portuguese didn’t produce a single dribble.

The second half didn’t see any initial improvement with the 31-year-old cutting a forlorn figure as Sporting grabbed a shock lead.

With the Bernabeu stunned into …

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