One of Cristiano Ronaldo's former Manchester United teammates has revealed he "prayed" the Portugal captain would not hit him in the face too during a recent incident between them.
During a 2024 UEFA European Championship qualifier on Friday night, Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle from Ronaldo, for which the Al Nassr star received a yellow card.
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After scuffing a shot at goal, Ronaldo flew in to Dubravka with his studs up as his former United colleague gathered the ball during his side's 1-0 defeat to the Portuguese, with some feeling the former Real was lucky to escape with only a yellow for the challenge.
Here is the incident:
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Dubravka#Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/nwBPXSJbiu
— Football.off (@footballoff1030) September 8, 2023
The goalkeeper, who played for the Red Devils in the first half of the 2022/23 season on loan from Newcastle United, has opened up about the challenge, revealing where he took most of the impact.
"In the shoulder, the neck and the chest," Dubravka said, as per GOAL.
"I just closed my eyes and prayed that he [Ronaldo] wouldn't hit me in the face as well.
"When I saw his studs coming at me, I didn't even look.
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"These are situations when the goalkeeper closes his eyes and tries only to block the shot, and he, as a striker, has to go after such a ball.
"I don't blame him. It's sport, it's football. Situations like this belong to it.
"Of course, he realised he hit me. He asked me if I was OK. I take it sportingly.
"I try to keep a clear head in these situations. It is a contact sport. Today, when we have VAR at our disposal, there is no point in getting into it."
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The yellow card Ronaldo picked up as a result of the tackle will see him miss his country's Euro 2024 qualifier against Luxembourg on Monday night.
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