Bellingham edges Real Madrid past Juventus
Jude Bellingham scored the winner on his first Champions League start of the season as Real Madrid continued its perfect opening run with a 1-0 victory over Juventus.
Xabi Alonso's side has won all three of its outings to open the 2025-2026 campaign, though it struggled for fluidity during large parts of the Santiago Bernabeu match.
Madrid could not find a way through in the first half as Brahim Diaz, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Arda Guler all tested Michele Di Gregorio, while Eder Militao curled narrowly over from the perimeter of Juve's box.
The Juventus goalkeeper produced his best stop just before the interval, repelling Kylian Mbappe's left-footed drive as Di Gregorio denied the in-form Madrid striker with a combination of his shoulder and face.
Igor Tudor's visitor should have taken the lead early in the second half, only for Dusan Vlahovic to be expertly thwarted by an onrushing Thibaut Courtois when one-on-one.
That miss was punished soon after by Bellingham as he pounced on the rebound when Vinicius Junior had struck Di Gregorio's left-hand post in the 57th minute.
Mbappe could have doubled Madrid's lead, if not for another smart Di Gregorio stop, before Diaz saw an attempt cleared off the line moments later.
Juventus failed to muster any meaningful response, barring a late fizzed effort from Filip Kostic that was pushed away by Courtois, as it went a third straight game without victory in this season's competition.
