The Marquee Fixture of MatchDay 6 of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League Group Stage was the highly Anticipated fixture between the teams of two of the greatest of all time Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus vs Lionel Messi's Barcelona.
Due to Ronaldo being tested positive for Covid-19 in the reverse fixture on MatchDay 2, the clash between these two didn't take place. However on MatchDay 6 the fans got to see both of them on the same pitch for the first time since Ronaldo's departure from Real Madrid in 2018. This was the first meeting between this two in the Champions League since 2011 when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-1 on aggregate.
Having already qualified for the next round, Juventus and Barcelona both level on points fighted for the top spot and win the group. Juventus needed to win by a 2 goal margin except a 0-2 scoreline to finish 1st.
It was Ronaldo who got the better of his arch rival Messi in this Roundup. Barcelona Centre Back brought down Ronaldo in the box in the 12th minute and conceded a penalty. As expected Ronaldo took it and placed the ball right down the middle to give Juventus the lead.
Seven minutes later, Juventus doubled their lead when American Forward Weston Mckennie slammed home an acrobatic right footed volley in the net to make it 2-0 for the visitors.
Barcelona had nearly 60% possession of the ball with 19 shots on goal out of which 7 were on target. All 7 shots were by Messi but there was no way past 42 Year Old Juventus's Legendary Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon who showed the age of just a number.
Juventus earned a second penalty of the game when Mckennie's shot was blocked by Defender Lenglet. VAR decided that as a handball and awarded the penalty. Ronaldo took it again and drived him penalty in the bottom left corner sending Ter Stegen the wrong way again to make it 3-0 for Juventus inside 52 minutes.
Juventus thought they had a fourth goal when Captain Lenardo Bonucci tucked away the ball from close range. However the goal was ruled out for offside by VAR. This brace was Ronaldo's 14th Goal at Camp Nou in his last 13 matches. The defeat meant Barcelona finish on second as Runners-up of the Group. This was Barca's first Champions League Home Defeat since 2013.
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