In the evening of the 22nd, Champions League play continues at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. With an exciting match between two heavyweights, Real Madrid and Juventus. With Real Madrid maintaining the top spot in La Liga, both teams are eager to make a strong impression in the group stage, making this clash a high-stakes affair with high-level play.
Real Madrid’s strong start to regional play comes apart from manager Xabi Alonso, who has been in formidable form, boasting an elite attacking lineup in Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. However, they face challenges in defense due to recent injuries and suspensions.
Juventus, managed by Igor Tudor, has demonstrated resilience but is now seeking to establish consistency. With a solid midfield and the attacking prowess of Kenan Yıldız and Dušan Vlahović, they aim to pose a significant threat with their ability to display balanced attacking.This encounter not only marks a pivotal moment in the group stage but also rekindles the storied rivalry between these two iconic clubs, as the atmosphere in Bernabéu Stadium will be electric.
Starting Lineups for Both Clubs
Real Madrid (4-3-3)
Captain: #7 Kylian Mbappé
GK: #1 Thibaut Courtois
Defenders: #15 Fede Valverde, #3 Éder Militão, #34 Raúl Asencio, #23 Álvaro Carreras
Midfielders: #18 Aurélien Tchouaméni, #5 Jude Bellingham, #24 Arda Güler
Forwards: #21 Brahim Díaz, #7 Kylian Mbappé, #11 Vinícius Júnior
Notable Substitutions:
- #14 Joselu replaced #21 Brahim Díaz (72’)
- #12 Eduardo Camavinga replaced #24 Arda Güler (64’)
- #22 Antonio Rüdiger replaced #34 Raúl Asencio (78’)
Juventus (3-4-2-1)
Captain: #5 Manuel Locatelli
GK: #1 Michele Di Gregorio
Defenders: #4 Federico Gatti, #24 Daniele Rugani, #15 Lloyd Kelly
Midfielders: #2 Pierre Kalulu, #7 Teun Koopmeiners, #19 Khéphren Thuram, #27 Andrea Cambiaso
Attacking Midfielders: #15 Kenan Yıldız, #5 Manuel Locatelli
Forward: #9 Dušan Vlahović
Notable Substitutions:
#18 Moise Kean replaced #9 Dušan Vlahović (82’)
#14 Weston McKennie replaced #19 Khéphren Thuram (70’)#22 Timothy Weah replaced #27 Andrea Cambiaso (75’)
Champions Match Recap: Real Madrid 1–0 Juventus
As anticipated, the clash between Real Madrid and Juventus was competitive, gritty, and full of tension. Real Madrid edged out another gritty match 1–0. Madrid’s single goal come in the 57th-minute, with a short finish from Jude Bellingham, who pounced on a rebound after Vinícius Júnior’s strike ricocheted off the post. The match wasn’t a high-scoring affair, but it revealed Madrid’s growing sense of discipline and tactical maturity. Ancelotti’s men controlled possession, absorbed Juventus’ pressure, and showed composure when transitioning out of tight defensive phases.
Early in the match, Juventus set the tone physically — pressing Madrid’s backline and cutting off passing lanes into the box. Thibaut Courtois was sharp from the start, making three critical saves within the opening 15 minutes to keep Madrid level. Despite Juve’s compact structure, Madrid began to settle around the 20-minute mark, dictating tempo through Tchouaméni and Bellingham in midfield. Madrid racked up corner after corner but lacked the final touch, as Juventus’ trio of Gatti, Rugani, and Kelly held their ground well. Still, Madrid’s patience paid off after the break, when sustained pressure from Brahim Díaz and Vinícius finally created the rebound Bellingham buried.
Juventus, for their part, produced moments of danger — particularly down the right wing with Cambiaso and Yıldız linking up — but lacked precision in the final third. Dušan Vlahović was largely isolated against Madrid’s center-backs, and while Koopmeiners and Thuram fought to control midfield, they couldn’t generate enough quality chances to test Courtois beyond the early stages. Madrid’s back line stayed compact, with Valverde and Carreras balancing their attacking runs smartly. The result extended Juventus’ winless run in Europe, while Real Madrid head into their Clásico fixture with confidence — not for flair, but for a defensive resilience and team structure that looks increasingly hard to break.
Takeaways for both clubs going to group play.
Real Madrid:
The win reinforces their ability to grind out results—even when they aren’t at peak fluency. No Champion’s match doesn’t come without adversity. With the looming La Liga matches and especially the big derby/Clásico ahead, this shows they have match-winners in moments of tight tension and can rely on their defence and midfield tempo control. They’ll want to build on the resilience shown, but ideally sharpen their attacking cohesion to avoid relying on a single moment.
Juventus:
The performance had positive signs—energy, effort, attacking intent—but the lack of clinical finishing and perhaps a bit of tactical clarity at the top level were their undoing. As they head into their league schedule, they must convert the chances they generate and tighten up defensively. If they continue this run without wins, the psychological burden will grow.
To round up this recap, heading into the upcoming matches. Madrid can carry momentum but must avoid complacency—especially in the build-up to their clásico fixture—while Juventus must turn intent into execution if they’re to recalibrate their season before it slips further away.
To round up this recap, heading into the upcoming matches. Madrid can carry momentum but must avoid complacency—especially in the build-up to their clásico fixture—while Juventus must turn intent into execution if they’re to recalibrate their season before it slips further away.
Sources credited:
- https://english.news.cn/20251023/3e0bdb4ddfc04e23becb3681dbe50aa7/c.html
- https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/757705