Much like the Imperial AT-ST Walker trod across the Endor forest floor, crushing the skulls of small Ewoks beneath its step, so is the Juventus Galactic Empire squeezing the life out of its opponents faces.
We’re only a third of the way through the season, but an eight-point lead in Serie A feels pretty unassailable for the back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back Italian champions, and Tuesday's 1-0 win over Valencia in Turin at Allianz Stadium secured passage to the Champions League Round of 16 for the fifth straight season.
Much of the inevitability of it has been reinforced by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, gunning for his own fourth-straight UCL title (that doesn’t even make any sense).
In the 59th minute on Tuesday, Ronaldo proved the difference when using his twinkle toes to work a yard of space before serving it on a platter for Mario Mandzukic in front of goal.
Mandzukic gets the goal, but the assist was vintage Ronaldo
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) November 27, 2018
Juventus outshot Valencia 19-6, and the Spanish visitors recorded only one shot on target. However, that attempt was wonderfully saved by Wojciech Szczesny right before the half to keep things from ever getting interesting.
Juventus and Valencia are still scoreless at halftime thanks to this remarkable save from Szczesny right before the whistle
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) November 27, 2018
Giorgio Chiellini put in work; Rodrigo Bentancur had himself a shift; Mandzukic recreated a 14-hour work day in 90 minutes; Ronaldo made the difference. That’s the formula, and it’s working.
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