Ronaldo to make Serie A debut for champs Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo will kick his first ball in Serie A at troubled Chievo on the weekend of August 18/19 when new club Juventus begin their bid for a record eighth straight league title. The fixture list for the 2018-19 season of the Italian championship was announced on Thursday with all eyes on where the superstar attacker, signed for 100 million euros from European champions Real Madrid earlier this month, would begin what he called “a new adventure”.

Juventus are strong favourites to further cement their domestic dominance following the superstar attacker’s arrival, with the league’s other big hitters in a transition period.

Napoli, who finished four points behind Juve last year, will be a different prospect from the free-flowing purists of recent years after replacing new Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri with Carlo Ancelotti, a double winner with the Premier League club in 2010.

Ancelotti begins his new job with a tough away trip to Lazio, who were top scorers last season with 89 goals and only missed out on Champions League football on the final day after a dramatic defeat to Inter Milan. Three-time Champions League winner Ancelotti follows that up with the visit of AC Milan, themselves hoping to rebuild after being taken over by American hedge fund Elliott Management earlier this month.

Lazio will host Juventus in the second week of the upcoming season, the first proper test for the reigning champions and 33-year-old Ronaldo and the second of two tough opening matches for coach Simone Inzaghi.

Roma, who begin at Torino, have already brought in 11 new players after finishing third and reaching the Champions League semifinals last season, but doubts remain after they sold fan favourite Radja Nainggolan to Inter and goalkeeper Alisson to Liverpool for a record-busting 72.5 million euros ($84.4 million).

Boosted by their qualification for Europe’s top competition and the signing of Nainggolan, Inter are nonetheless not expected to trouble all-conquering Juve’s charge for the title.

However Massimiliano Allegri’s side are unlikely to have it their own way, after a draw that gives them trips to both Luciano Spalletti’s Inter and Roma in the final five weeks of the season.

Juve’s opening day opponents Chievo were let off from being deducted points from last season and relegated after a legal technicality meant charges that they deliberately inflated the figures of transfer dealings with now-bankrupt Serie B club Cesena were thrown out.

Juventus legend Andrea Pirlo has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to help the Serie A giants to Champions League glory. Juventus last tasted success in the European competition in 1996 though reached the final in 2015 and 2017.

They were beaten by Barcelona three years ago before Ronaldo’s former side Real Madrid were 4-1 victors last June. Juventus brought Ronaldo from the Spanish capital for €100million (£89m) earlier this summer.

And Pirlo believes the 33-year-old can star for the current Serie A champions as they bid for European success.

“Cristiano Ronaldo can bring that something extra, which Juventus need,” Pirlo said. “I’m happy that a great champion has joined Juve. Buying a player like him doesn’t win you the Champions League alone, but you get a lot closer to it. Ronaldo is a player who tilts balances, and he can help Juventus win the Champions League. He’s a top player, he’ll make the difference and we’ll see something beautiful.” Ronaldo has already spoken about his wish to help Juventus to Champions League success having won seven Serie A titles in a row.

During his official unveiling, Ronaldo said: “I don’t see the Champions League as an obsession.As the president has told me, it’s not an obsession but a dream. I’m here to help Juventus make it come true. It’s possible.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *