Barely 24 hours after he lamented Juventus dropping points against Parma, Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted at the Estadio Jose Alvalade looking on as his boyhood club Sporting took on Benfica. The 33-year-old Juventus forward who grabbed a brace in Saturday's 3-3 draw, was pictured with his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez and best friend Miguel Paixao in the stands.
However, the outcome of the first 45 minutes was probably not what the ex-Real Madrid superstar envisaged. A Haris Seferovic strike in the 11th minute set Sporting C.P. on course for its first home defeat in the league this season. 25 minutes later teenage sensation Joao Felix expertly scored Benfica's second of the night.
Bruno Fernandes subsequently restored a slight glimmer of hope before half time by pulling one goal back for Sporting inside the 43rd minute. However, the optimism only last for the half-time break with Benfica center-back Ruben Diaz restoring the two-goal lead a minute after the second half was resumed.
Look who's in attendance in the Sporting-Benfica match today!
— TugaScout (@TugaScoutPT) February 3, 2019
Scored a goal in Italy yesterday, back to watch his beloved Sporting in Lisbon today!
Cristiano Ronaldo. pic.twitter.com/iCaf0MxhuR
Ronaldo with a fan at the sporting cp game. pic.twitter.com/zjxBTyG5au
— . (@IconicCristiano) February 3, 2019
Cristiano Ronaldo's appearance at the Portuguese blockbuster clash was nothing out of the blue. Earlier on Sunday, Juventus revealed in a statement that all the players have been given two days off following a busy week of fixtures. The statement read: "The Bianconeri have featured in three games over the course of the seven days, and will now have time to rest and regain their energy before they resume Serie A action.
"Juventus will return to training at Continassa on Tuesday afternoon, where they will begin their preparations for their next match away to Sassuolo on Sunday, 10 February, at 18:00 CET."
