Real Madrid play host to Juventus in UEFA Champions League action on October 22 as Xabi Alonso looks to extend his superb start to the season.
The former Spain international has won 10 of his 11 games across all competitions in 2025/26 with defeat to neighbours Atletico Madrid the sole slip-up.
That impressive streak features victory in the first two UCL games of the campaign via a 2-1 home win over Marseille and a 5-0 demolition of Kairat Almaty.
The red-hot Kylian Mbappe got Alonso’s charges over the line in a 1-0 weekend derby win at Getafe as the hosts controversially ended the game with nine players.
Juventus lost 2-0 at Cesc Fabregas’ Como over the weekend, ending a run of five straight draws, including in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal.
MORE: UEFA Champions League fixtures 2025/26: Schedule of matchdays, results
Real Madrid vs. Juventus: Starting XI and latest team news
Alonso’s injury problems in defence are still a few weeks away from easing with four key defenders sidelined.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal are expected back to full fitness by the end of the month but Antonio Rudiger is out until mid-December.
Federico Valverde continues at right-back, but David Alaba is unlikely to start two games back-to-back, so Raul Asencio should partner Eder Militao.
Alonso spoke glowingly of Arda Guler in the build-up, and he starts at the No. 10 position he has blossomed in during the absence of Jude Bellingham to begin the season. Bellingham is moved deeper in midfield, with Eduardo Camavinga dropped. Interestingly, Brahim Diaz comes into the XI in place of young Franco Mastantuono who has garnered praise for his impressive performances so far.
Real Madrid starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Valverde, Militao, Asencio, Carreras — Bellingham, Tchouameni — B. Diaz, Guler, Vinicius Junior — Mbappe.
Real Madrid subs: Lunin (GK), F. Gonzalez (GK), Mendy, F. Garcia, Thiago Pitarch, Camavinga, Mastantuono, Rodrygo, G. Garcia, Endrick.
Injured: Rudiger (hamstring), Huijsen (calf), Carvajal (calf), Ceballos (muscle), Alexander-Arnold (hamstring).
Suspended: None.
Igor Tudor did not flag up any fresh injury concerns after the loss at Como, but the Croatian is under real pressure based on Juventus’ poor form.
Federico Gatti rotates into the visitors defence. USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie comes into the lineup, while fellow CONCACAF star Jonathan David rotates out to the bench. The Canada striker is replaced at the No. 9 position by Dusan Vlahovic after firing a blank against Como over the weekend.
Oft-injured Brazil international Bremer remains out of action for the Turin giants, but Fabio Miretti returns from a fitness issue to make the bench.
Juventus starting XI (3-4-3, right to left): Di Gregorio (GK) — Gatti, Rugani, Kelly — Kalulu, McKennie, Thuram-Ulien, Cambiaso — Yildiz, Vlahovic, Koopmeiners.
Juventus subs: Fuscaldo (GK), Perin (GK), Kostic, J. Mario, Locatelli, Adzic, Conceicao, Zhegrova, Miretti, Openda, David.
Injured: Bremer (knee), Pinsoglio (calf), Milik (thigh), Cabal (hamstring).
Suspended: None.
MORE: Ronaldo wondergoal and Buffon rant — remembering the 2018 UCL showdown between Real Madrid and Juventus
Real Madrid vs. Juventus match details
- Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
- Kickoff time: 9 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 6 a.m. AEDT (Oct. 23)
- Location: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid (Spain)
- Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase: Matchday 3
- Referee: Slavko Vincic (SVN)
- VAR: Bastian Dankert (GER)
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