Ronaldo's sister: 'They want to destroy my brother'

Cristiano Ronaldo's contentious sending off on his Champions League debut for Juventus was the dominant storyline of the first round of group stage matches, and naturally, plenty have voiced their support of the Portuguese star.

Chief among those is Ronaldo's sister Katia Aveiro, who expressed her displeasure with an Instagram post on Wednesday evening. "A football disgrace ... justice will be done ... they want to destroy my brother, but God never sleeps ... disgraceful," Aveiro said, as translated by ESPN.

Ronaldo's teammate Blaise Matuidi echoed the sentiments of the player's sister, albeit in a more measured tone, saying: "It's very harsh. I think if you have seen the pictures, you'll have seen that it's incomprehensible."

Ronaldo was handed his walking papers on Wednesday at the Mestalla after an incident with Valencia's Jeison Murillo was spotted by the goal-line official, who relayed his findings to referee Felix Brych.

The dismissal was Ronaldo's first in 154 Champions League matches, resulting in a one-match suspension that will see the 33-year-old absent for the Group H tie with Swiss side Young Boys. Unless he receives an additional ban, it's likely Ronaldo will be eligible for an Oct. 10 return to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.