Juventus can cope without Ronaldo in Champions League says Bentancur

Juventus will be able to cope without star player Cristiano Ronaldo in their midweek Champions League match, claims midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.

Ronaldo is suspended for the clash with Young Boys on Tuesday after being sent off on his European debut for Juve in their opening group game against Valencia. 

Juve do have plenty of attacking options however, such as Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala, and Bentancur is confident they can manage without the £100m man.

Ronaldo is suspended for Young Boys on Tuesday after being sent off for Juve at Valencia

Bentancur is confident however that the Italians can manage without the £100m man

Bentancur told the Juventus website: ‘We want to win against Young Boys so that we can put one foot in the next round of the Champions League, but we know that it will be tough because as I said before all the teams that play against us give their best.

‘There will be no Cristiano and we know how important he is for us, but this is a team sport, there are eleven of us out there whoever will be on the field will give their maximum.’ 

Ronaldo was in top form at the weekend, helping Juve to a 3-1 Serie A win over title rival Napoli and playing a part in all three goals. 

Ronaldo was in top form at the weekend, helping Juve to a 3-1 Serie A win over title rival Napoli

It means Juve – looking for their eighth successive title – are already six points clear of Napoli after seven games, and Bentancur said that confidence is flowing through the Turin dressing room.

He said: ‘It was a very positive day. We have to play to win all the games and keep increasing that gap and we are confident that we can do so.

‘We know that we are very experienced and we are strong. We play every game to the maximum, also because we know that being Juve every opponent will do the same.’