Who: Real Madrid vs Juventus
Content: UEFA Champions League
Location: Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
Date and time: Wednesday 22nd October 9pm (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: Get everything ready on Al Jazeera Sports from 6pm (16:00 GMT) before the live text commentary stream.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid will host Italian side Juventus at the Bernabéu Stadium, with both teams aiming to move up the UEFA Champions League (UCL) ladder in the matchday three clash.
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Real, one of only six undefeated teams remaining in the UCL and second behind Bayern Munich, will be hoping for at least three points against Juventus ahead of their next match against English champions Liverpool on November 4.
Juventus have just two draws against Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal so far, and are languishing in 23rd place in the group stage standings, outside of the elimination zone. To keep pace with the leaders, they desperately need a win against Los Blancos on Wednesday.
Here’s what you need to know before your high-stakes encounter.
How did Real Madrid and Juventus perform in the domestic league last weekend?
Kylian Mbappé extended his scoring streak to 11 games on Sunday as he helped Real Madrid regain top spot in La Liga with a 1-0 win over Getafe.
Xabi Alonso’s side have restored a two-point advantage ahead of next weekend’s Clasico after rivals Barcelona briefly ousted Real with a narrow win over Girona on Saturday.
Juventus suffered a 2-0 loss to Como in Serie A on Sunday, another disappointing result for Igor Tudor’s side, who have now drawn in five consecutive games in all competitions.
Juve are in seventh place, four points behind leaders AC Milan.
How many times have Real and Juventus won the UEFA Champions League?
Real Madrid has won the UEFA Champions League 15 times, making them the most successful team in history. Most recently, they won the title two years ago in the 2023-24 season by defeating Germany’s Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
Juventus has won the trophy twice. Their most recent title came in 1996 against Dutch side Ajax. Juve also reached the UCL final in 2017, but lost 4-1 to Real Madrid.
What happened the last time Real Madrid played Juventus?
The last time the two megaclubs met was on July 2nd at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Real won the round of 16 clash 1-0, defeating Juventus in a close match thanks to a second-half goal from Gonzalo García, and advancing to the quarter-finals.
The last time Real and Juventus clashed in the Champions League was on April 11, 2018, when Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic 98th-minute penalty helped Madrid reach their eighth consecutive UCL semi-final (4-3 on aggregate).
Real Madrid team news
Alonso will continue to be without several starters for Wednesday’s game against Juventus.
Defender Dean Huisen, who suffered a micro-tear in his left calf muscle while playing for Spain in early October, was removed from the squad. It was initially diagnosed as a muscle strain, but this injury now means that his participation in the Clasico against Barcelona on October 26th is in doubt.
Austrian international David Alaba limped off against Getafe on Sunday with a calf problem, making the 33-year-old a mid-match decision. If he is unavailable, Raul Asensio is likely to be in the starting lineup.
The squad is further weakened by the continued absence of four defenders, including Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy.
juventus team news
Tudor will be without centre-back Grayson Bremer, who is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, with the Brazilian expected to be out until mid-November.
Also absent from the defensive line is left-back Juan Cabal, who continues to rehabilitate a thigh injury sustained in Juve’s 2-2 draw with Villarreal in the Champions League on October 1.
Winger Edon Djeglova is doubtful to play against Real Madrid after reinjuring his hip.
It is unclear which formation Tudor will adopt against Real, having ditched his preferred 3-4-2-1 set-up during Sunday’s come-from-behind defeat to Como.
Real Madrid’s projected starting lineup
Thibaut Courtois (goalkeeper); Fede Valverde, Eder Militao, Raul Asensio, Alvaro Carreras. Aurelien Choameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastantuono. Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé
Juventus’ projected starting lineup
Michele Di Gregorio (goalkeeper); Pierre Carles, Daniele Rugani, Lloyd Kelly, Andrea Cambiaso. Kefren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Teen Corps Minors. Francisco Conceição, Jonathan David, Kenan Yildiz
direct confrontation
Real Madrid and Juventus have played each other 21 times in the Champions League, with Los Blancos having a slight advantage in terms of total wins.
Past meetings: 21 Real Madrid wins: 10 Draws: 2 Juventus wins: 9
Form guide:
Real Madrid: WLWWW (all competitions, latest results last)
Juventus: DDDDL
