You could sense how much it had all got to Cristiano Ronaldo that his only response to media - and his only real contribution of note on the night - was to double down on a dose of spite.

“I have five Champions Leagues,” he told Spanish reporters in the mixed zone, before referencing Atletico Madrid. “You have none.”

That’s true, but pretty irrelevant right now. The stats that really matter are that his side are 2-0 down, and that competition record also applies to the majority of his Juventus teammates and manager Max Allegri.

The Italians so badly crave that first Champions League since 1996. That was something Ronaldo’s vaunted signing was specifically supposed to deliver.

It puts an awful lot of pressure on him ahead of a second leg that is going to require the most sensational of turn-arounds, and maybe one of his best ever Champions League displays, if as much to prevent one of his worst ever performances in the competition and a considerable deal of embarrassment.

Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Show all 22 1 /22 Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Jan Oblak 8 Atletico Madrid's Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak (R) makes a save beside Juventus' Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini (L) and Atletico Madrid's Brazilian defender Filipe Luis during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Juanfran 7 Atletico defender Juanfran fights for the ball against Juventus defender Alex Sandro during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Juventus at Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) Andrea Comas AP Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Diego Godin 7 Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan defender Diego Godin (back) heads the ball over Juventus' Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP/Getty Images OSCAR DEL POZO AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Jose Gimenez 8 Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (back) challenges Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan defender Jose Gimenez during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Felipe Luis 7 German referee Felix Zwayer (C) talks to Atletico Madrid's Brazilian defender Filipe Luis beside Juventus' Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images JAVIER SORIANO AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Partey 7 MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 20: Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid breaks away from Mario Mandzukic of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) Angel Martinez Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Rodri 6 Atletico midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez, bottom, tries to stop Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Juventus at Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Manu Fernandez AP Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Sail Niguez 6 Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (R) challenges Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Saul Niguez during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Koke 6 Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Koke (L) vies with Juventus' Argentine forward Paulo Dybala during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Griezmann 6 Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Costa 7 Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 First Leg - Atletico Madrid v Juventus - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - February 20, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa reacts REUTERS/Juan Medina JUAN MEDINA REUTERS Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Szczesny 7 Juventus' Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (BOTTOM) saves a ball beside Juventus' Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci (R) as Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann approaches during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images JAVIER SORIANO AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus De Sciglio 6 Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan defender Diego Godin (R) challenges Juventus' Italian defender Mattia De Sciglio during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP/Getty Images OSCAR DEL POZO AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Chiellini 7 Juventus' Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Bonucci 6 Juventus' Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci (L) vies with Atletico Madrid's Spanish forward Diego Costa during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images JAVIER SORIANO AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Sandro 6 Juventus' Brazilian defender Alex Sandro controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Bentancur 6 Juventus' Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur (L) vies with Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Koke during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Pjanic 6 Juventus' Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Matuidi 6 Juventus' French midfielder Blaise Matuidi controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Dybala 6 Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Koke (L) vies with Juventus' Argentine forward Paulo Dybala during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Mandzukic 6 Juventus' Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic gestures during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP/Getty Images OSCAR DEL POZO AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Atletico vs Juventus Ronaldo 6 Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus FC at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid on February 20, 2019. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Getty Images

It was only Tuesday, and the eve of this defeat, that Giorgio Chiellini spoke of how the Portuguese was ensuring Juve were “going beyond what we thought we could be, new limits”.

No one anticipated those limits would be the last-16, which would represent the joint earliest Juventus have gone out of the competition in half a decade. Ronaldo himself hasn’t gone out before the semi-finals since 2009/10 with Real Madrid.

Then again, Ronaldo hasn’t had a Champions League goal return this bad - a mere one in six - since 2005/06, when he hit just one in eight.

His performance reflected that return: isolated flashes of quality amid a lot of nothing.

There was of course that brilliant early free-kick that forced such a save from Jan Oblak, and then when he put the afterburners on to drive into the Atletico box in the second half, but the way that move ended was indicative. Diego Godin raced across to so convincingly and cleanly to win the ball and clear.

Cristiano Ronaldo mocked Atletico Madrid despite Juventus suffering a 2-0 defeat (Getty)

Ronaldo was brought right down to earth, and literally left on the ground.

That was actually where he spent a lot of the match, petulantly complaining to the referee about perceived fouls.

It was of course all the more pointed that Ronaldo suffered this kind of night against Atletico, a team for who he used to represent an “ogre”. He has punished them so many times, with some of his 22 goals against them directly contributing to those five Champions League medals. He so willingly reminded their supporters of this before the game by raising those five fingers, but they were so gleefully giving it back, especially when they went ahead.

It was the sweetest revenge.

Atletico Madrid celebrate Diego Godin’s goal (EPA)

And there was a deeper football relevance there, too.

Atletico’s experience of so many Ronaldo masterclasses didn’t bring fear, or anxiety, in the way it might have done if it was his old club Real Madrid.

It only fired them, their previous knowledge of how he plays only giving them nous, as Godin displayed. They were wise to him.

The free-kick was the closest Ronaldo got to goal, until insult was added to his personal feeling of injustice as he diverted Godin’s effort into his own net for what may be the killer strike.

There is a chance that moment could finish the tie.

Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to make a big impact on the game (AFP/Getty Images)

There is a strong likelihood that - and this season - will bring a lot of talk Ronaldo is finished; that Juventus have finished this team as a project by spending so much on someone so past it.

That could be dangerous. You want Ronaldo wound up, sure, but you really don’t want him fired up. He has risen to such challenges in the past.

That record has more than proven that.