Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid clinched a gritty 1-0 victory against Juventus at the Bernabéu, extending their perfect start to the UEFA Champions League (UCL) season. The win marks a significant result for Los Blancos, giving them their fourth victory in the last five head-to-head encounters against the Italian giants and building momentum ahead of the upcoming El Clásico.
Juventus Starts Strong, Courtois Stands Tall
Despite their poor domestic form, Juventus made a surprisingly fast start, dominating the early exchanges. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was called into action twice within the first 15 minutes, denying low drives from Weston McKennie and Federico Gatti to keep the score level.
Real eventually found their rhythm, with Aurélien Tchouaméni creating pressure and Kylian Mbappé being slipped through by Arda Güler for the hosts’ best chance of the half, only for his effort to be smothered by the quick response of keeper Michele De Gregorio.
Bellingham Breaks the Deadlock
The second half began much like the first, with the Bianconeri creating immediate danger. Courtois was again forced into a sharp save to deny Dušan Vlahović after the Serb had surged clear on the break.
The opening goal, however, arrived somewhat against the run of play, courtesy of some brilliant wing play. Vinícius Júnior weaved his way past several defenders, and though his initial shot cannoned back off the woodwork, it fell perfectly into the path of Jude Bellingham. The midfielder calmly tapped the rebound into the empty net for his first goal since June, giving Alonso’s side the crucial lead.
De Gregorio’s Stand and Final Scramble
After taking the lead, Real Madrid finally began to assert their expected dominance. De Gregorio became the focal point for Juventus, pulling off a string of saves to keep his side in the contest, including a stunning double stop to deny both Mbappé and Brahim Díaz. Díaz’s follow-up attempt was subsequently cleared off the line by Gatti.
In a nervy finish, Juventus had one final chance, but Loïs Openda was denied a clear shot by a vital covering block from Raúl Asencio, sealing the 1-0 win for Real.
The result sends a confident Real Madrid into this weekend’s El Clásico, while the struggle continues for Juventus, who are now winless in their last seven outings and languish outside the qualification places in the UCL league phase.
