Ronaldo Can Help Juve Achieve Dream – Chiellini

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini believes the Italian giants are finally ready to win the Champions League following the acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portugal international agreed to leave Real Madrid for Juventus last summer and he already boasts 15 goals in 25 outings across all competitions.

He has played a key role in helping Juventus to open up a nine-point gap at the top of Serie A, while they also topped their group in the Champions League.

Juventus’ title defence doesn’t appear to be in doubt and that should allow the squad to put their full focus on going the distance in Europe, where they are priced at 6/1 with Betfred to clinch the Champions League.

Their reward for winning group H is a last-16 showdown with Atletico Madrid with the first-leg to be played in Spain on February 20 (Match betting – Atletico 13/8, draw 2/1, Juventus 15/8).

The Turin-based outfit have won the Champions League on two occasions, although not since 1996, and they have appeared in two of the past four finals.

Ronaldo played a big role, scoring twice, in helping Los Blancos to defeat Juventus 4-1 in the 2017 final, while he also struck three times in the quarter-final tie with the Italians last year as Real eliminated them.

“Cristiano scored many, many, many times against us and he broke my dreams many times – in Cardiff, in Madrid, in Turin,” said Chiellini.

The defender says that with the Portuguese superstar now on board there is plenty of belief around the Juve squad that they can end their 23-year wait for European glory.

He added: “Before, the Champions League was a dream. Now it is a target because Cristiano is the best player in the world and we need him to make the last step.

“It’s the personality of Cristiano. He has fantastic skills in the field but out of the field, his attitude – how he works, how he prepares for the match, how he lives every day of his life – can help us. The team has changed.”

Odds subject to change