Bellingham's Strike Keeps Real Madrid Undefeated vs Juventus

In a tense UEFA Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabéu, Jude Bellingham emerged as the hero, firing Real Madrid to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a resilient Juventus side.

The English midfielder's clinical finish in the 58th minute extended Los Blancos' flawless start to the 2025-26 campaign, leaving them atop their group with nine points from three matches. For Juventus, the defeat deepened their woes, marking a seventh straight winless outing across all competitions and just two points earned in Europe.

The opening half was a cagey affair, with both teams probing tentatively under the Bernabéu's floodlights.

Real Madrid, managed by Xabi Alonso, struggled to ignite their star-studded attack, while Juventus, desperate to halt their slide since mid-September, relied on disciplined defending led by Michele Di Gregorio in goal.

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The deadlock shattered midway through the second half. Vinícius Júnior, in a moment of brilliance, slalomed past three defenders before smashing a shot against the post. Bellingham, lurking opportunistically, pounced on the rebound to slot home his first goal since June—his maiden strike of the season following shoulder surgery. "That was the spark we needed," Alonso might have reflected post-match, though no quotes emerged immediately.

Kylian Mbappé, ending an 11-game scoring streak for club and country, came closest to doubling the lead with two sharp efforts, both denied by Di Gregorio's acrobatic saves. The French forward's frustration was palpable, but his pace continued to unsettle the Italian backline.

Juventus mounted spirited counters, epitomized by Dušan Vlahović's blistering breakaway early in the second period. The Serbian forward outran Éder Militão but was foiled by Thibaut Courtois' desperate leg save. In stoppage time, Filip Kosta's thunderous drive from distance forced another Courtois stop, while Francisco Conceição escaped a potential red card after a controversial tangle with Vinícius.

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Tactically, Real Madrid's second-half surge showcased their depth, with Alonso's late substitutions preserving energy for Sunday's La Liga showdown against Barcelona. Juventus' doggedness—echoing their historic Bernabéu upsets—couldn't mask conversion issues, leaving coach Thiago Motta under mounting pressure.

This result cements Real Madrid's favorites tag, while Juventus stare at group-stage peril. As Bellingham celebrated, Madrid's European dynasty roared on.