In their final exhibition match before the regular season, European champions Real Madrid defeated Juventus 2-0 despite being outplayed for long portions of the game.
From the first minute on, Los Merengues surrounded Juventus and applied pressure, and they didn't let up even when they substituted their entire starting lineup at halftime. This is a team that, starting with the UEFA Super Cup on August 10, wants to do nothing less than win every competition in which they participate.
Real Madrid displayed a fluid, flowing offense in front of a sellout crowd of almost 93,000, with Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. establishing the tempo with their quick interchanges and combination play. Vinicius was called for a foul after attempting one of his trademark lightning-fast dribbles into the box, and Benzema made the next penalty kick. Marco Asensio scored his second goal of the game after another beautiful passing play in the second half.
Juventus had a rough evening, looking fragmented and without ideas compared to Real Madrid. Dusan Vlahovic, a star forward, got his first preseason minutes but had no impact due to being sidelined. In his first preseason game as a member of the team, new addition Angel Di Maria was largely ineffective. Meanwhile, injured players Paul Pogba, Wojciech Szczesny, and Weston McKennie were also sidelined.
On August 10 in Helsinki, Real Madrid will play Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Super Cup. Atletico Madrid will be the opponent for Juventus in a preseason friendly on August 7; on August 15, Juventus will face Sassuolo in the season opener for both teams in Serie A.
Here are some highlights to enjoy:
Karim Benzema scored for RMA from a penalty kick in the 19th minute.
69th minute RMA: Marco Asensio (Jesus Vallejo).
Preseason match between Real Madrid and Juventus, including live updates and highlights. Real Madrid won, 2-0. Here's the lowdown on how this battle unfolded:
The 86th minute marked Juventus' best second-half scoring opportunity. Attempt at a right-wing cross that veers off the post and out for a corner.
Marco Asensio is shown a yellow card in the 83rd minute for a reckless, off-the-ball challenge on Juan Cuadrado. No need at all.
It's the 81st minute, and the crowd is chanting "ole" after every Real Madrid pass. Juventus has been publicly shamed.
In the 72nd minute, Juventus has slowly been bringing on substitutes, including one for a player who was immediately hurt. New to the Juve team?
Starting XI (4-5-1): Carlo Pinsoglio (GK) 23, Tommaso Barbieri (42), Paulo Dybala (45), Gatti, Federico, No. 15, 24 anni di Daniele Rugani, Luca Pellegrini, Age 17 For the 28-year-old Denis Zakaria, First Place: Nicolo Ravella (13), Second Place: Nicolo Cudrig (34), — 33 Marley Ake (30 Matias Soule), 40 Marco Da Graca, Instance: 11-Juan Cuadrado
69th minute: GOAL Real! Numerous new Real Madrid players? The same Old Real Madrid. Marco Asensio scores off of an incredible passing combination at the top of the box and a cross from Jesus Vallejo on the left. The purity and elegance of its design.
With 64 minutes remaining, Real Madrid subs in a whopping nine players. So, here's the new cast:
The starting lineup for Real Madrid (4-3-3, from the right) is as follows: 1 - Thibaut Courtois (GK) - 17 - Lucas Vazquez - 22 - Antonio Rudiger -. 6-Nacho, 11-Marco Asensio, 7-Eden Hazard, 21-Rodrygo Recoba, 5-Jesus Vallejo, 19-Dani Ceballos, 18-Aurelien Tchouameni, 25-Eduardo Camavinga.
At the 62-minute mark, Real Madrid put on a clinic. Karim Benzema sends a curling shot toward the lower left corner, but Juve goalkeeper Perin makes a diving save. Real Madrid doesn't want to take their players off the field. They took the corner kick quickly to prevent the substitutes from scoring.
In the 59th minute, Real Madrid's entire roster is starting to contribute. Toni Kroos and Dani Carvajal both had shots saved by the goalkeeper for Juve. As the game progresses, Real Madrid will be making several substitutions.
Time: 54' Real Madrid have dominated play to start the second half, showing the same inspired teamwork that marked the first 45 minutes.
Juve's Manuel Locatelli made a spectacular acrobatic leap to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity, Bonucci miscommunicated with his keeper, and Real Madrid's David Alaba advanced all the way from center back to take a shot on goal. The Italians haven't had it easy so far.
The start of the second half has been signaled by the clock at minute 46. In place of Eder Militao is Antonio Rudiger. Angel Di Maria is replaced by Juan Cuadrado.
The score is Real Madrid 1 and Juventus 0.
At halftime, Real Madrid deservedly led 1-0. The European champs came out strong right from the first whistle. They attack in waves, with players switching and combining effectively to maintain a direct and vertical onslaught. Things heat up with Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. in the mix.
And while Real Madrid move like a well-oiled machine, Juventus are sluggish, disorganized, and creatively bankrupt going forward. They rely heavily on Dusan Vlahovic and Angel Di Maria for production in the final third, but Di Maria hasn't shown much invention today and has had a somewhat low-energy performance. However, Vlahovic has been shut out and ignored. Unfortunately, Moise Kean and I just don't click. Massimiliano Allegri, the coach of Juve, has his hands full with the debut of Vlahovic and Di Maria. </p>
Eder Militao makes a spectacular recovery to clear the ball for a corner after Dusan Vlahovic gets a ball in the box in the 44th minute. It leads nowhere.
There hasn't been much action in the game so far (it's the 38th minute), but it's obvious that Real Madrid poses a significant threat whenever they attack Juventus' defensive line. In this match, Juventus has a harder time putting together threatening offensive sequences. You can't expect the same level of fluidity that Real experiences.
Now in the 27th minute, Juve should be awarded a penalty. However, neither the referee nor VAR will make a call. Ferland Mendy bizarrely throws the ball back into his own penalty area, where Angel Di Maria pounces on it ahead of Eder Militao. It appeared to be a punishment. Still, the score is 1-0.
During the 19th minute, Real Madrid scores! The penalty kick is scored by Karim Benzema. The top forward in the world has scored twice in as many games.
Real Madrid gets a penalty in the 17th minute! In the aftermath of a careless giveaway by Dusan Vlahovic, Vinicius Jr. dribbles into the penalty area and is brought down by Danilo. The rules are rather specific.
On a free kick in the 13th minute, Juve captain Leonardo Bonucci found the upper left corner of the net. Whoa, things sure have changed in this game. Next thing you know, Real Madrid defenders Dusan Vlahovic and Denis Zakaria are squabbling in the penalty area. Juve has gotten back into the game.
In the eleventh minute, left back Alex Sandro advances all the way up to the finish line, setting up Juventus' first major attempt. Unfortunately, Juventus' forwards are unable to convert on their scoring opportunities.
In the fifth minute, Fede Valverde was taken down by a terrible tackle from Manuel Locatelli. In the absence of a caution, Real Madrid runs a play from their practice field.
The defending Spanish champions have gotten off to a roaring start. Once again, Juventus has gotten off to a sluggish start to a match (the same thing happened against Barcelona, with their giveaways only compounding the problems and the pressure).
The match starts in the first minute. Contrasting with Real Madrid's lilac uniforms are Juventus' classic black and white stripes. Karim Benzema scores for Real Madrid after just 10 seconds, but three of their players were offside.
A mere ten minutes till kickoff, Mr. Juventus himself is out in California cheering on the side he once represented so ardently.
Real Madrid supporters 75 minutes before start in the Rose Bowl:
Officially sold out 24 hours before kickoff, organizers urged fans to "highly discouraged from showing up at Rose Bowl Stadium" Those who have tickets have been advised to arrive two hours early.
One hundred and twenty minutes before kickoff, Real Madrid will wear the following uniforms against Juventus:
Comparison of the rosters of Real Madrid and Juventus
The opening lineup for Real Madrid (4-3-3, from right to left) is as follows: 1–Thibaut Courtois (GK)–2–Dani Carvajal–3–Eder Militao–4–Luka Modric. Alaba, David, 4th, 10-Luka Modric — 14-Casemiro — 23-Ferland Mendy 8, Toni Kroos — 15, Federico Valverde, 9, Karim Benzema, 20, Vinicius Jr.
Replacements for Real Madrid (18): #13 Andriy Lunin (GK) and #26 Luis Lopez (GK), Canizares, Lucas, 30 (GK), - Tobias, Vinicius, Age 27, Number 17, Lucas Vazquez; A. Rudiger, Antonino, 22, 6-Nacho, Item #5: Jesus Vallejo Sixteen-year-old Alvaro Odriozola, twenty-fifth-year-old Eduardo Camavinga, 19-Aurelien Tchouameni, Daniel Ceballos, 19, Asensio, Marco 11, Mariano Diaz, Age 24 21-Rodrygo, The Seventh Eden Hazard, Twelve-year-old Borja Mayoral, Juanmi Latsa (No. 29)
Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie were both expected to make their preseason debuts for Juventus tonight against Real Madrid, but McKennie has been ruled out due to an injury to his shoulder and is not listed in the squad. Dusan Vlahovic starts for the first time alongside Angel Di Maria and Moise Kean.
Because of an adductor injury, starting goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny of Juventus has been replaced by backup Mattia Perin, while starting fullback/winger Juan Cuadrado has been relegated to the bench.
For Juventus' opening 4-3-3 formation, from right to left, the team had 36-Mattia Perin (GK) — 6-Danilo, 19.Leonardo Bonucci, 3-Bremer, Angelo Di Maria (22), Dusan Vlahovic (9), Moise Kean (18), and Alex Sandro (12) vs. Denis Zakaria (28), Manuel Locatelli (27), and Nicolo Fagioli (44).
Carlo Pinsoglio (GK) (23), Giovanni Garofani (45) are the twelve substitutes for Juventus (GK), Gatti, Federico, No. 15, 24 anni di Daniele Rugani, Tommaso Barbieri, number 42. Pellegrini, Luca, 17 Eleventh-Juan Cuadrado, 30. Matas Soule, N. Ravella, 13th, Marco Da Graca (33), Marley Ake (34), and Nicolo Cudrig (40)
