AMSTERDAM: Cristiano Ronaldo remains the king of the cup after his 125th Champions League goal secured a 1-1 draw for Juventus away to Ajax Amsterdam in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Ronaldo, five times a European club champion, scored just before half-time with a diving header to Joao Cancelo’s cross.

The goal had come against the run of play and the hosts equalised within a minute of the second half starting, through David Neres’ fine curling effort from 15 yards.

Both teams had late chances with Ajax’s Jurgen Ekkelenkamp having a shot saved before Juventus substitute Douglas Costa hit the post.

The winners face Tottenham or Manchester City in the semi-finals.

Ronaldo was playing for Juventus for the first time since he scored a hat-trick to give them 3-2 aggregate victory against Atletico Madrid in the last 16.

He picked up a thigh injury on international duty for Portugal and there were doubts whether he would be fit enough for the tie.

But his fifth Champions League goal of the season gives his side a good chance of reaching the final four, and a goalless draw at Juventus Stadium next week will be enough for them to advance.

The Italian leaders, who are only one point away from winning the Serie A title, had not had a shot on target before their 45th-minute goal.

It came from a throw in near the halfway line and they quickly countered with Ronaldo releasing Cancelo, but no Ajax man tracked the Portugal forward’s run into the penalty area and his diving header was too powerful for Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana to keep out.

Ronaldo won the Champions League title in each of the past three seasons at Real Madrid before his move last July to Juventus, who remain on course to win the tournament for the first time since 1996.

Barcelona win . . . 

Barcelona are favourites to meet Porto of Liverpool in the semi-final after winning 1-0 away to Manchester United courtesy of an own goal by Luke Shaw, deflecting home a Luis Suarez header in the opening exchanges.

Barcelona had the hosts chasing shadows for the first 25 minutes, with Shaw – suspended for the second leg – accidentally putting Ernesto Valverde’s side ahead after Suarez met a superb cross from Lionel Messi.

Initially ruled out for offside, Video Assistant Referee Massimiliano Irrati overturned the decision and the former Liverpool striker made the most of his moment in the spotlight.

Philippe Coutinho forced a fine save from David De Gea but Solskjaer’s Reds grew into the game from the mid-point of the first half and at times had Barcelona rattled.

But as much as they frustrated the visitors, they failed to get a shot on target in a Champions League game for the first time since March 2005. The fourth loss in five matches left them facing an uphill battle in Spain.

United have now lost three consecutive Champions League knockout stage games for the first time in conceding their fourth Champions League defeat to Barcelona with each one coming in a different stadium (Camp Nou, Stadio Olimpico, Wembley and Old Trafford).

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