UEFA Champions League – League Phase – Match-Day 3 – Bernabéu – October 22, 2025
Real Madrid maintain their perfect record in the UEFA Champions League campaign after a solid 1-0 victory over Italian giants Juventus. In the recently introduced Champions League League Phase, Los Blancos are one of just five teams so far to win each of their opening three matches, collecting nine points from nine – the only Spanish Club to do so. Xabi Alonso’s men sit comfortably in the Top 8 of the League Phase, with the hopes of advancing directly to the Round of 16 stage, avoiding a possible play-off round which they featured in last year against Manchester City, advancing 6-3 on aggregate.
The Whites faced the Old Lady in the Champions League for the first time since the infamous 2017/18 Quarter-Final, when Cristiano Ronaldo netted a 98th-minute penalty at the Bernabéu to send Real Madrid to the Semi-Finals on their way to ‘La Decimotercera’ (The Thirteenth). Seven years later, the only player to have featured in that game from both teams is current Real Madrid captain, Dani Carvajal, who was unavailable for this fixture due to injury. However, both sides faced off just a few months ago in Miami during the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup during the Round of 16 stage. The cagey affair ended in a slim 1-0 win for Real Madrid after a magnificent header by academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia.
Before the game kicked off, the Bernabéu South Stand paid homage to club legend and academy graduate Lucas Vázquez, who left the club in the summer after 10 seasons in the first team, with a tifo of him as a youngster supporting the club.
The visitors had the upper hand after the referee’s whistle after creating chances and being a constant threat offensively during the first 10 minutes, but were unable to get past Thibaut Courtois. The hosts managed to get grips of the game after a nervy first ten minutes, controlling possession and attempting more shots on target. It was evident early from the first half that Igor Tudor’s side were playing for a point, as they often had all their players behind the ball and crowded their box in attempts of defending against the offensive power of Los Blancos. The Croatian coach was under significant pressure as his Juve side had gone winless in their last six matches across all competitions going into this clash, without scoring a goal in each their last two games.
Around the 25 minute mark, Kylian Mbappé had a left-footed effort denied after a brilliant save by Michele Di Gregorio. Prior to the game, Mbappé had scored in each of his last 11 matches for Real Madrid and the French national team, including every Champions League game so far this season, being the competition’s top scorer this season with 5 goals. The French forward has a great record scoring against the Italian giants, with 4 goals in as many games prior to the clash, scoring against them in both his previous clubs – Monaco and PSG. Although, this wasn’t his night.
The first half ended goalless with the hosts being the better side and looking closer to scoring the game’s first goal. Despite this, just minutes into the second half, Serbian forward Dušan Vlahović had the biggest chance of the game with a one-on-one chance against Courtois, with the Belgian making an excellent save with his foot to deny the visitors breaking the deadlock. Less than ten minutes later, Jude Bellingham scored the match winning goal, after a dazzling attempt from Vinícius Júnior, who went on a run and managed to shoot with his weaker left foot from inside the box despite being surrounded by three Juventus players. The ball pinged off the post and Bellingham was there at the right place at the right time to tap it home, something the young Englishman has made a habit of since joining the club. This was Bellingham’s first goal of the season and his first in the competition since the Play-Off First Leg against Manchester City last season.
The 15-time Champions League winners could have doubled their lead after another great attempt by Mbappé was saved by Di Gregorio, who also saved the rebound from Federico Valverde, after a third attempt in the same sequence from Brahim Diaz was blocked off the line. The Italian goalkeeper had a great night between the sticks, making a total of eight saves and was easily Juventus’ best player on the night. Juventus had a few chances towards the end of the game to try and salvage a point from the game, but Courtois and the rest of the Madrid defence ensured the game ended with a clean sheet and the three points for the hosts.