Why Juventus’ Serie A rivals should be scared by Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal ‘drought’

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Cristiano Ronaldo has not started life at Juventus too well, going his first three games without scoring.

The Portuguese forward joined the Old Lady from Real Madrid in the summer, ending a nine-year association with Los Blancos.

After turning up later to pre-season due to his World Cup commitments, Ronaldo has all three of Juventus’ opening Serie A games, playing the full 90 minutes on each occasion.

Having scored 450 goals in 438 games for Real Madrid during his nine years, many had expected Ronaldo to hit the ground running in Serie A.

But Ronaldo has had 23 shots so far in his three games, without scoring, more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

This had led some fans to comment on his apparent struggles at the new club, but Juventus supporters should have no worries about the impact Ronaldo is about to have.

Now 33, Ronaldo has adapted his game to be a punishing goalscorer, limiting his movements around the area to maximise his energy – which comes at a risk of starting slow.

None of his 23 in Italy have come from inside the six-yard box – obviously the most dangerous area – but 15 have come from inside the box. Whilst his eight efforts from long range are to be expected given his penchant for the spectacular, it is the high volume of shots from within the 18-yard-box that suggests the net will soon ripple.

In fact, the Portuguese forward had a similarly slow start in La Liga for Real Madrid last season, failing to score in the opening three games.

Ronaldo’s first league goal of the season came with his 28th attempt, the winner in a 2-1 win over Getafe – and the forward did not look back from there.

Following the break of his mini drought, Ronaldo went on to average just below one goal per game (0.96) in La Liga, finishing with 26 goals in 27 appearances with Real ultimately disappointing and finishing third.

The return of 26 would eventually come from 178 shots, averaging 6.8 attempts per goal scored, with Ronaldo not worrying about any shot/goal ratio which some may look at.

This would become even clearer with the Portuguese then scoring just three goals in his next eight games ending the first half of the La Liga season with four from 12.

But then, at the turn of the New Year, Ronaldo kicked in.

Four goals in four games came in January, before Ronaldo would go on to score in 10 consecutive games from February until the end of the season, missing various matches through injury and resting for Champions League fixtures.

Ronaldo’s final 10 La Liga games of the season would bring 18 goals including one hat-trick and a four-goal return against Girona.

The Portuguese may have started slow in Serie A, but he is nowhere near declining and can be backed to score in Juventus’ next game against Sassuolo if history is anything to go by.

Ronaldo has had 200+ shots in seven of his last nine league seasons. When looking at shots per 90 minutes, he has fallen under seven just three times and never below an average of six.

The 7.7 he is currently averaging with Juventus in fact equals his highest tally in this period. In 2010/11, Ronaldo unleashed 250 efforts on goal across 34 games which resulted in a hefty 40-goal return.

The Juventus No.7 is still shooting with the frequency of previous seasons. It would be more worrying if this figure was lower rather than the current zero that occupies his goal tally.

Serie A aside, there is also the Champions League to look forward to, with Ronaldo making the competition his own in recent years.

Though not scoring in La Liga at the start of last season – a start delayed for Ronaldo due to suspension – the Portuguese was in devastating form in the Champions League, scoring four in Europe before his first domestic goal, finishing the competition with 15 goals.

Ronaldo has also scored 17 goals in previous games against Juventus’ group stage opponents, with 15 in 17 against Valencia and two in two against Manchester United.

So, whilst 23 shots without a goal might tickle the Old Lady’s rivals, Cristiano Ronaldo is just warming up.

Whilst Juventus fans can get ready for their new No.7 to find the net in a stadium near you soon.

The post Why Juventus’ Serie A rivals should be scared by Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal ‘drought’ appeared first on Squawka News.



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