Ronaldo sends Juve into Champions League quarter-final

Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed his hat-trick against Atletico Madrid was ‘the reason Juventus signed me’.

The Italian giants reached the quarter finals of the Champions League following the 3-0 victory on Tuesday night.

The 33-year-old scored his eighth Champions League hat-trick thanks two towering headers in either half.

He then showed ice cool nerves to smash home an 86th-minute spot-kick after Federico Bernardeschi went down under Angel Correa’s challenge.

Ronaldo told Sky Sport Italia: ‘It had to be a special night and it was, not just for the goals, but for the team and their incredible attitude.

‘This is the mentality you need in the Champions League and we are on the right track.

‘This is why Juve brought me in, to help on magic nights like this. Atletico Madrid are a really tough team to face, but we are strong too and proved we deserved to go through.

‘It’s too early to talk about the final so let’s take it one step at a time’.

Juve – who are runaway leaders in Serie A after going 27 games unbeaten and 18 points clear of closest rivals Napoli – dominated much of the match.