Can Xabi Alonso triumph over Juventus again? Will the Dark Horses strike back?
Real Madrid will head into this Champions League week with high optimism. They would like to keep the unbeaten Champions League momentum up. Kylian Mbappe is in red-hot form.
Last time Xabi Alonso faced Juventus, it was in the Club World Cup.
Juventus is currently struggling in Serie A. They will try their best to give a good fight. Fans are excited to see Mbappe sign under the UCL nights once again. The team that scores first will definitely have an upper hand.
It depends on Xabi, who he gives a start between Vinicious Junior and Rodrygo. Rodrygo against Getafe dropped a nice performance. Though he couldn’t score but his overall game was highly appreciated by the fans
Critical gameweek for both teams. A draw might be good for Juventus, but an absolute no for Real Madrid.
Match Details:
- Fixture: Real Madrid vs Juventus
- Date: 23.10.2025
- Kick Off: 00:30 IST
- Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu Madrid, Spain
- Referee: Slavko Vincic
| Key Stats | Real Madrid | Juventus |
| Head-to-head | 3 wins | 2 wins |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| Last 5 Matches | L, D, W, W, L | W, D, L, L, W |
| Aggregate(5) | 14 goals | 7 goals |
| Top Scorer(5) | Ronaldo – 10 | Mandzukic-4 |
| Other Scorers | Asenio-2, Marcelo-1 | Vidal-1, Morata-1 |
| Notable Streak | Dominant H2H record overall | Won in the last Match
H2H |
Key Players to Watch out For:
- Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)- 16 goals in 14 matches. He is on a dream run as a forward. Finishing, dribbling, creating chances, he is at the top of every metric.
- Conceicao (Juventus) – The Portuguese young magnifico.Have created a lot of chances in Serie A and am the main playmaker for Juventus on the right wing.
- Jude Belligham(Real Madrid) – The tall British midfielder, strong aerial presence, press resistant, accurate, and fast ball distribution. He can cut the defence with just one vertical through ball; his dribbling destroys defensive lines. A key figure in Madrid’s midfield.
Tactical Battle:
The Santiago Bernabéu is ready for another Champions League classic, as Real Madrid host Juventus in a clash rich with history and tension. Both sides have different paths this season. Madrid, dominant and fluid under Xabi Alonso, while Juventus still searches for rhythm under Igor Tudor. But in Europe, reputations fade; it’s all about execution on the night.
Real Madrid’s game is elegant yet lethal. Xabi Alonso’s side mixes structured possession with sudden acceleration of speed. Mbappé roams freely across the front line. Xabi Alonso has given this freedom to him, which drags defenders out, while Vinícius Jr attacks space with ferocity.
Behind them, Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga provide the drive and balance that let Madrid control tempo. Expect a high defensive line and full-backs pushing deep into Juventus’ half.
Juventus will look to respond with discipline rather than flair. Tudor’s 3-4-2-1 setup is about containment, compact shape, and sharp counters. Manuel Locatelli anchors midfield, distributing under pressure; Kenan Yıldız and Francisco Conceição add the spark on transitions.
With Gleison Bremer out, Juventus will rely heavily on Federico Gatti and Daniele Rugani to handle Madrid’s movement.
The tactical war will rest in midfield. Real’s double pivot of Tchouaméni and Camavinga loves to dictate; Juventus must disrupt that rhythm using aggression and tactical fouls if necessary. Their hope lies in catching Madrid on turnovers — through long diagonals to Chiesa or quick flicks from Jonathan David.
It promises a battle of ideas: Alonso’s modern possession symphony versus Tudor’s pragmatic resilience. Real Madrid, backed by a roaring Bernabéu and brimming confidence, are the favorites. But Juventus, battling for redemption, will make it anything but easy.
Predicted Lineups:
Real Madrid
- Mbappe
- Belligham
- Rodrygo
- Mastantuono
- Camavinga
- Tchouameni
- Carreras
- Alaba
- Militao
- Valverde
- Courtois
Manager: Xabi Alonso
Juventus
- David
- Yildiz
- Conceicao
- Locatelli
- Thuram-Ulien
- Koopmeiners
- Cambiaso
- Kelly
- Rugani
- Kalulu
- Di Gregorio
Manager: Igor Tudor
Fan Expectations:
🚨 The next 2 games vs Real Madrid & Lazio are crucial for Tudor’s future at Juventus.
If there’s no reaction from the team, the club could decide to sack him.
Spalletti, Mancini & Palladino are the 3 names being considered.
📰 Gazzetta pic.twitter.com/5eMebtCCP7
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) October 20, 2025
Key Injuries:
Real Madrid
| Player | Injury | Possible Return Date |
| Rudiger | Leg Injury | Early November |
| Carvajal | Thigh Injury | Late November |
| Huijsen | Muscle Injury | Early November |
| Mendy | Muscle Injury | Back in Training |
| Ceballos | Muscle Injury | Early November |
Juventus
| Player | Injury | Possible Return Date |
| Pinsoglio | Leg Injury | Early November |
| Bremer | Meniscus Injury | Early December |
| Cabal | Thigh Injury | Early November |
| Milik | Shin Injury | Late November |
| Zhegrova | Groin Injury | Early November |
| Miretti | Thigh Injury | Early December |
