Juventus on the Hunt: Todor’s Tightrope Walk Against Real Madrid in Europe’s Spotlight
21 October 2025
Match Preview
Juventus head coach Igor Todor has named a 23-man squad traveling to Madrid for a Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday evening.
The Bianconeri will face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in the third group-stage game, coming off a run of mixed results that have left them without a win in any competition since September 13.
Todor suffered his first defeat of the season this week with a 2-0 loss away at Como, as Juve seek a rebound under pressure from the club’s board.
Heading to the Spanish capital, Todor and his players face one of European football’s toughest tests, a fixture that could shape Juve’s European campaign.
Squad News
In Madrid Todor brings 23 players, including four goalkeepers, with Meriti back from injury and Zigrova returning from fatigue.
Reports had young talents Maxime De Bruol and Francesco Crabasto training with the first team, but neither was named in the official squad.
In the broader context, Juventus’ campaign has been a mix of wins, draws and a recent defeat that leaves the team in seventh place in Serie A with 12 points.
In the Champions League, they opened with a 4-4 draw against Borussia Dortmund at home, then a 2-2 draw with Villarreal away, collecting two points from six and sitting third in the pool.
Upcoming fixtures include Real Madrid at Bernabéu, followed by Sporting CP, Bodø/Glimt, Benfica and Monaco, shaping a crucial stretch for Todor.
Stakes and Outlook
The fate of Todor could hinge on the next two matches against Real Madrid and Lazio; a loss in either could put his position under review, with Mancini, Spalletti, Paladino and Motta among potential successors.
Todor, 47, remains under contract with Juventus until 2027, and his leadership at this juncture will define whether Juve’s season recovers or slips further away.
On a lighter note, if Todor’s plan fails, the board may prompt a dramatic rethink; if it succeeds, the headlines will read like a masterclass in precision — the sniper’s equivalent of a perfectly aimed pass.
Sniper joke 1: Todor’s tactical plan is so precise it could hit a moving target at the Bernabéu from Turin — with time to spare.
Sniper joke 2: If Juve score, the only thing sharper than the finish will be the memes that follow; if not, at least the coffee in Madrid will wake the spectators as well as the team.
