THE VITALS:

Team: Juventus

Brand: Adidas

Era: 2018-19 (Used for the 2018-19 Serie A season)

Name/Number: Ronaldo #7

CONDITION: VERY GOOD

This article stands in very good condition, however, there is some fraying and wear to the sponsor and the material does display some light signs of wear.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Medium

Pit to Pit Measurement: 20.5 inches

Shirt Length: 28 inches 

Made in Adidas’ ‘Climalite’ range that was introduced ahead of the 2018-19 season; this shirt provides dimensions for a generous size medium fitting shirt that may in fact be better suited to a size large.

DESCRIPTION:

After sticking to tradition and simple style for the home and away kits; Adidas went for the jugular for Juventus’ 3^rd kit ahead of the 2018/19 season, producing a stunning black/charcoal and neon yellow strip that is right up there with the very best shirts Adidas have produced since becoming Juventus’ kit supplier in 2015! The black and charcoal is separated by a an elaborate series of rivets that create a devastating 2-tone effect, meanwhile the decision to use the Adidas 3-stripes down the side panels was another masterstroke as was colouring the Adidas embroidery, sponsor decal and club crest in the same hue! This ensemble was worn in the away games against: Parma, Lazio, SPAL, Valencia and Atletico Madrid.

THE SEASON:

Despite a 7^th straight Serie A title win and another domestic double; their controversial exit to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter final left a taste of disappointment, despite holding off the incredible domestic challenge of Napoli. ‘If you can’t beat them, then buy them!’; that must have been the moto as Juventus completed the incredible €100 million capture of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid! Serie A’s biggest ever transfer coup brought a sense of excitement to the league hitherto unseen since the 90’s, however, with that also came the burden of incredible expectations. Ronaldo wasn’t the only major signing as Emre Can, Joao Cancelo and even prodigal son: Leonardo Bonucci all arrived to bolster this already fearsome outfit, while Douglas Costa impressed on loan from Bayern Munich to have his deal made permanent. Not even the departures of long term servants: Gianluigi Buffon, Kwadwo Asamoah, Stefan Lichsteiner, Claudio Marchisio and even Gonzalo Higuain, could dampen the mood at the newly branded Allianz Stadium!

Juve’ began the season with a thrilling 3-2 win over Chievo, and then the first goals of the Ronaldo-era came on September 16^th 2018, when his brace was enough to down Sassuolo 2-1. 3 days later, he would be sent off in his Champions League debut for Juventus against Valencia, but it mattered not as Miralem Pjanic’s double got the European campaign off to a win. By the end of September, Juve had won 7 out of 7 in Serie A; most recently, easing to a 3-1 win over Napoli on September 29^th.

On October 20^th, they would finally drop their first points of the season, as Genoa held them to a 1-1 draw at the Juventus Stadium. 3 days later, Ronaldo would make an emotional return to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in the Champions League, however, it was Paolo Dybala who’s goal separated the sides as Juve made 3 out 3 wins in the group. Their indomitable league form would see them amass an 8 match winning run that claimed: Milan, Inter and Roma all as victims; by now, Juve would have an 8 point cushion at the top of the league, and would be in the Last 16 of the Champions League; the short straw in the draw would be theirs however, as Atletico Madrid were the opponents when the competition resumed in February.

2019 began with progression to the quarter final of the Copa del Rey, and then defeating Lazio to win the Supercoppa Italian in Saudi Arabia, however, after 5 years, they would finally taste defeat in the competition, a Atalanta stunned them 3-0 on January 30^th. They would also fall to a 2-0 defeat away in the 1^st Leg of their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on February 20^th, however, their record signing Ronaldo would torment Diego Simeone’s side once more as his 2^nd Leg hat-trick sent Juventus to the quarter final of the competition where Ajax awaited as opponents.

Their exertions in midweek would catch up with the side as after a run of 27 league games comprised of 24 wins and 3 draws; Juve would finally taste defeat in Serie A as Genoa beat them 2-0 on March 17^th. The defeat was almost inconsequential however as Juventus remained 15 points clear at the top of the league.

Ajax would prove that their elimination of Real Madrid was no fluke by first, holding Juventus to a 1-1 draw in Turin, before coming from a goal down in Amsterdam to win the tie 3-2 on aggregate and eliminate the tournament favourites in what was revenge 23 years in the making after Juventus beat Ajax to win 1996 Champions League Final. 4 days after, they would celebrate an incredible 8^th successive Scudetto win as they beat Fiorentina 2-1 at home on April 20^th. With nothing left to play for, Juventus would still surprisingly not win in any of their remaining 5 games of the season and then on May 17^th, Max Allegri, after guiding Juventus to 11 major honours in 5 seasons, would announce that he was stepping down as the club’s head coach at the end of the season.

The notable players that season were:

Federico Bernardeschi, Moise Kean, Mario Mandzukic, Douglas Costa, Paulo Dybala, Cristiano Ronaldo, Juan Cuadrado, Rodrigo Bentancur, Emre Can, Blaise Matuidi, Sami Khedira, Miralem Pjanic, Leonardo Spinazolla, Daniele Rugani, Joao Cancelo, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, Alex Sandro, Martin Caceres, Giorgio Chiellini, Mattia De Sciglio, Mattia Perin, Wojciech Szczesny