Madrid vs Juventus: Alonso Aims for a European hat-trick as Real Madrid host Juve

Match Preview

Real Madrid host Juventus on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu, in the third round of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Manager Xabi Alonso is chasing his third consecutive win in the competition after the team’s broad 0-5 victory over Kairat, followed by a 2-1 win against Marseille in his first Champions League appearance in charge.

Madrid remain hampered by injuries, with several players ruled out, but Arda Güler is expected to return to the starting lineup after benching in the recent league match against Getafe.

The main tactical question for Alonso is where to deploy Jude Bellingham in the lineup, with a likely shift to accommodate Kamavinga who started vs Getafe.

Madrid face a packed schedule, and after this match they will host Barcelona in a Sunday Clasico that could decide who leads La Liga.

Ahead of the clash, Madrid and Juve line up against each other after Juventus’ own struggles in Serie A, with a raft of injuries and absentees listed by the club.

The predicted Real Madrid XI (as described by the press) includes Courtois, Valverde, Militao, Asensio, Carvajal, Camavinga, Bellingham, Güler; Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. are named in the attacking setup, reflecting the players the system seeks to leverage.

The Juventus lineup features a mix of veterans and youth as pressure mounts to perform on Europe’s biggest stage.

Alonso also spoke about the importance of the Bernabéu atmosphere, insisting that a strong home crowd can tip the balance in a European classic.

In discussing the tactical side of the game, he praised Juve’s maturity and argued that discipline will be key to imposing Madrid’s style on the visitors.

Alonso touched on the development of Arda Güler and the ongoing evaluation of how Endrick might fit into long-term plans, while stressing that transfer talk is not the focus right now.

As for the future, the coach affirmed that the squad must be ready to compete on multiple fronts, with a deep and versatile forward line a clear objective for the season.

Cardiff memories aside, the focus turns to Madrid’s current European mission, with Alonso underscoring that every game in Europe is a test of character and technique.

Punchlines aside, if you’re looking for a spoiler: the only thing bigger than the stakes tonight might be the post-match analysis on social media. And if you thought that was meta, wait until the second-half tactical masterclass kicks in. Real Madrid, take your seats—your opponents are bringing a plan and a few tricks to the Bernabéu, and so far this season, Alonso is teaching the class.