Cristiano Ronaldo would line up for Juventus for the first time since completing his summer transfer from Real Madrid, starting as the focal point of Massimiliano Allegri’s attack against Chievo.
Ronaldo’s Serie A debut did not start as he had planned, however, with Juventus finding themselves 2-1 down in the second half of the tie.
Try as he might, Ronaldo could not pull his side level. A Mattia Bani own goal and a stoppage-time winner from Federico Bernardeschi eventually sealed an opening-day win for the Turin club but it was far from straightforward, and Ronaldo’s individual performance did not have the immediate effect he or the supporters would have expected.
In 90 minutes, Ronaldo had nine shots on goal – more than any other player on the pitch, and more than any other player in the opening round of Serie A fixtures. He hit the target with four of them.
A week later, Lazio’s visit to the Juventus Stadium marked Ronaldo’s official home debut.
Again, the Portuguese attempted more shots at goal than any other player – Ronaldo’s six strikes just two short of Lazio’s combined eight efforts. Four of Ronaldo’s strikes hit the target – 80 per cent – and he registered his first assist for his new club, albeit in somewhat fortunate circumstances.
Ronaldo’s far-post run was picked out by Bernardeschi, only for the No.7 to take a wild swing and mishit the ball following the faintest of touches from goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, with Mandzukic firing into an open net from close range.
Two games, 15 shots, and still no goals for the Portugal superstar. Would it be a case of third time lucky?
Ronaldo’s third outing as a Juventus player came against Parma on September 1 and it followed a similar pattern. Juventus took an early lead but found themselves level not long after, Gervinho striking for the hosts at Stadio Ennio Tardini.
Again it was Ronaldo who tried to force proceedings but ultimately failed to do so, again registering the highest number of shots on goal of any player on the pitch though this time only one was on target.
Mandzukic set up Blaise Matuidi for the winning goal on the hour mark and with it secured maximum points from the first three games of the season. For Ronaldo, though, he goes into the international break without a goal to his name in the black and white of Juventus.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward has registered more shots than any other player on each Serie A weekend so far this season without anything to show for it.
His nine shots on target is also the highest amount of any other player, with Edin Dzeko, Arkadiusz Milik, Andrea Belotti, and Marco Benassi next in line with five. Each of the other four players have a goal to show for their efforts, though.
Ronaldo has so far had 31 touches in opposition boxes and has created eight chances in three games for his team-mates.
And while his attacking threat is appreciated by his manager, Allegri claims it’s only a matter of time before his €100m (£88m/$117m) purchase starts finding the net again.
“Italian football presents different problems and it takes time,” Allegri said of Ronaldo’s drought. “He’s not getting the rub of the green at the moment either – the ball is not bouncing right for him or he’s shooting just off target.
“We’ll all be fresher after the break and that’s when the real season starts.”
Next up for Juventus is a home game against Sassuolo before a trip to Valencia in the Champions League, a competition which Ronaldo leads in the all-time scoring records.
While it’s taken slightly longer for Ronaldo to open his account for his new club, few will expect his drought to continue for much longer.
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