Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive again for coronavirus on the eve of Juventus's Champions League clash against his great rival Lionel Messi's Barcelona, according to reports.
Portuguese TVI reported that Ronaldo "has once against tested positive for Covid-19" following a swab carried out by Juventus. According to the television channel, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has now tested positive 18 times.
The 35-year-old is now awaiting the result of a UEFA test which, if also positive, would rule him out of the Group G game in Turin.
Ronaldo first tested positive for Covid-19 two weeks ago while playing with Portugal, and has been in self-isolation since returning to Italy.
Ronaldo needed to return a negative test, 24 hours before the game to be allowed to play, according to UEFA rules.
Juventus only confirm if a player has recovered, with Sky Sport Italia and Gazzetta Dello Sport reporting that Ronaldo will miss the Barcelona game.
"Ronaldo had a test like everyone else, this evening (Tuesday) we will have the definitive result," coach Andrea Pirlo told a press conference earlier on Tuesday.
"For now it's all on the high seas, when the final result comes everything will be clearer.
"Depending on the result, we'll see what we do. It's not easy to play an entire game after 15 days of inactivity."
Ronaldo, who has no symptoms, has missed three games including his side's 2-0 Champions League win at Dynamo Kiev last week.
The clash would be the first between Ronaldo and Messi since the Portugal forward left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018.
"For 15 years, Messi and Ronaldo have done great things," said former Italy and Juventus midfielder Pirlo.
"For the first time, I'll be taking on Messi as a coach, I'll treat him with the enormous respect that he deserves."
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman added: "We always want the best to be on the pitch, and Ronaldo is a great player.
Juventus v Barcelona - past meetings
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April 9, 2003 - Champions League quarter-final first leg - Juventus 1 (Montero 16') Barcelona 1 (Saviola 78'): Honours even at the Stadio Delle Alpi. Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero had given Marcello Lippi's side an early lead only for another South American, the Argentine Javier Saviola, to score with 12 minutes left to seemingly put Barca in pole position for the return leg in Spain. Getty -
April 22, 2003 - Champions League quarter-final second-leg - Barcelona 1 (Xavi 66') Juventus 2 (Nedved 53' Zalayeta 114'). Juve win 3-2 on aggregate AET: Midfielder Pavel Nedved and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon were at the heart of 10-man Juve's win in Catalonia. Barca's Xavi Hernandez had cancelled out Nedved's opener only for Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids to receive a second yellow with 10 minutes left. But in extra-time, two brilliant Buffon saves and a winner from substitute Marcelo Zalayeta took the Italians through. Juve would go on to lose to AC Milan on penalties in the final. Getty -
June 6, 2015 - Champions League final - Juventus 1 (Morata 55') Barcelona 3 (Rakitic 4', Suarez 68', Neymar 90 +7'): Barca's third European crown in six years was sealed thanks to their magnificent attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. In a thrilling game in Berlin, Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic gave the Spaniard's a flying start only for Alvaro Morata to level the scores in the second half. But goals from Suarez and then, deep in injury time, Neymar meant Luis Enrique's side completed the treble after winning domestic league and cup competitions. Getty -
April 11, 2017 - Champions League quarter-final first leg - Juventus 3 (Dybala 7' & 22', Chiellini 55') Barcelona 0: Juve took full control of the tie with a superb display less than two years after their beating in Berlin at the hands of Barca. Argentine forward Paulo Dybala's two early goals put Massimiliano Allegri's side in the driving seat before a Giorgio Chiellini header looked to have booked the Italian's semi-final spot, barring a remarkable turnaround in Spain. Getty -
April 19, 2017 - Champions League quarter-final first leg - Barcelona 0 Juventus 0: There was to be no stunning fightback from Barca as Juventus produced a defensive masterclass, led by Italian defender Chiellini, at Camp Nou. Messi, Suarez and Neymar came up against a black and white wall this time round as Barca were restricted to just one shot on target. To make matters worse for the Spaniards, arch-rivals Real Madrid would go on to win the competition, battering Juve 4-1 in the final. Getty -
September 12, 2017 - Champions League Group D - Barcelona 3 (Messi 45' & 69'), Rakitic 56') Juventus 0: Just five months after their last meeting, the two European giants clashed again, this time it was Messi and Barca who were firmly in charge. The Argentine genius hit two brilliant goals, with a Rakitic strike sandwiched in the middle, to earn Ernesto Valverde's side a convincing group stage win at Camp Nou. Getty -
November 22, 2017 - Champions League Group D - Juventus 0 Barcelona 0: Messi was surprisingly left on the bench for the return match in Turin as the match finished goalless - although Barca dominated possession and created the game's better chances. Barca finished top of their group, with Juve also qualifying for the knockout stages. Both would fall at the quarter-final stage, though. Barca would throw away a 4-1 first-leg lead against Roma by losing the second leg 3-0 and going out on away goals. Juve would narrowly lose 4-3 on aggregate to Real Madrid, who would again go on to win the final. Getty
"I don't know if he will be in condition to play, that's not my problem. But if Ronaldo is there, it is one more reason for us to be ready."
Koeman, like Pirlo, has taken over as coach this season, with the teams top of Group G after winning their opening fixtures.
But the Dutch manager has been under pressure after a 3-1 defeat against Real Madrid at the weekend followed a 1-0 loss to Getafe, the first time in four years the Catalan giants have suffered consecutive defeats in the league.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu also resigned on Tuesday along with his board of directors, following mounting pressure from fans and his public falling out with Messi.
Ronaldo and Messi now look set to meet again in the reverse fixture at the Nou Camp on December 8.
Messi, 33, has featured in four victorious campaigns for Barcelona, while Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, four with Real Madrid and once with Manchester United.
Messi has six Ballon d'Or titles with Ronaldo claiming five. However Ronaldo has 130 Champions League goals to Messi's 116.
"It's clear that any team would miss a player like Cristiano," said Brazil defender Danilo at the pre-match press conference.
"But we have faith in every player on the team. We have people who want to do well and help us have a great match."
Messi has won 16 of their 35 encounters to Ronaldo's 10, with the remaining nine ending in draws.
The pair have only met five times in Champions League games, most recently in the semi-final in 2011.
Pirlo also has defensive worries with captain Giorgio Chiellini, and Matthijs De Ligt out but fellow centreback Leonardo Bonucci's thigh strain will be evaluated on Wednesday morning.
"These are the matches that everyone would like to play. We have this opportunity and we can't wait to test ourselves against Barcelona," said Pirlo.
"It's not a decisive game, but we still want to see what our value is."
Argentina forward Paulo Dybala remains "a bit tired" after playing for 90 minutes in his first match in over three months last Sunday against Verona.
"It's normal after the first game as a starter. He'll have time to recover and play tomorrow night."
