Cristiano Ronaldo relishing Champions League reunion with Sporting Lisbon

Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo faces an emotional reunion with boyhood club Sporting Lisbon when his side begin the defence of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ronaldo, who scored the decisive penalty in May's final shoot-out win over Atletico Madrid, returned to club football following an injury lay-off when he scored in the 5-2 thrashing of Osasuna on Saturday.

The Portugal captain netted in a 1-0 win and a 2-1 triumph over Sporting while he was with Manchester United, but has yet to face them in a Real shirt.

Ronaldo moved from his family home in Madeira to Sporting's academy at the age of 12 and spent one season in the first team, scoring five goals in 30 appearances before moving to Old Trafford in 2003.

"It's a special match, it's a special team," he told uefa.com. "To play Sporting again is a privilege for me.

"I wanted to draw Sporting again because I think they have a good team, they have a good coach (Jorge Jesus) and it will be another special moment in my life."

No team has retained the Champions League title since the competition was revamped in 1992 but Ronaldo said Real, who have lifted the trophy a record 11 times, were capable of bucking the trend.

"It's a great challenge and I think at Real we have a chance to win it again," the three-time Ballon d'Or winner added.

"We know it's a very difficult competition...but we think positive, that it's possible to win it again."

Ronaldo played 65 minutes against Osasuna, his first appearance since injuring his knee in Portugal's Euro 2016 final win over France in July, and is expected to start against Sporting at the Bernabeu.

Karim Benzema is likely to return to the starting line-up for the first time this campaign after struggling with a hip problem but midfielder Isco, defender Fabio Coentrao and goalkeeper Keylor Navas are injured.