The serious things started, both for Real Madrid and for Juventus, which had still faced a big piece like Manchester City in chickens. The club of the Spanish capital was gaining momentum in this competition, and for this first big test in the round of 16 of the World Cup, Xabi Alonso was released heavy artillery. As the main novelty, we were entitled to a 3-5-2 with Tchouameni in central defense to accompany Huijsen and Rüdiger. Gonzalo Garcia was still present in front with Vinicius Jr, well supported by a Bellingham-Valverde-Güler trio behind them. Kylian Mbappé, back after his illness, started on the bench. Opposite, French people, like Kalulu, Khephren Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani, and beautiful people like Kenan Yildiz or Francisco Conceiçao.
The first hot situation of the match was to be put on the account of Kenan Yildiz, author of a too crushed strike (2nd). Behind, Randal Kolo Muani was close to making the difference. After a one-two with Yildiz, the Frenchman, well launched in the back of the defense, tried a stung ball in front of Ceurtois who passed over the bar (7th). The Turinois were creating opportunities quite easily and Yildiz, again, saw his missile, slightly deflected by Tchouameni, brushing against the left post of Courtois (11th). Big start of Juve therefore. Little by little, Real Madrid still managed to tighten the lines behind a little, but clearly struggled to create games, Gonzalo and Vinicius Jr being isolated in front. Tchouameni was trying to strike a distant strike, but Di Gregorio responded (25th). Clearly, the Xabi Ball Weren’t dreaming for the moment and even if the Merengues had cut the Turin wave by grabbing the ball a little, it is always the Italian stable which was most dangerously approached from the opposing cages. Di Gregorio still had to work to prevent Jude Bellingham from opening the scoring (30th). Served by Valverde, the Englishman had been able to strike in the surface but the Italian was vigilant.
A much higher real madrid in the second period
The more we approached half-time, the more Real Madrid took control of the ball, but there too, it was a fairly sterile domination since the Merengues broke their teeth on a well organized Juventus and well in place in its half. A lack of freshness, ideas and madness on the Madrilene side, like a Vinicius JR particularly little inspired this evening. On a distant strike from Valverde, Di Gregorio still released a superb hand to avoid the Uruguayan golazo (45th+1). Upon returning from the locker room, Alonso changed his system in 4-4-2, with Tchouameni who went back to the midfield, while Kylian Mbappé was quickly to warm up. A tactical change that has paid since we saw a very different Real Madrid in the second period. Vinicius Jr, who left against, was spoiling a nice situation (51st). The Madrids had launched their second period very well despite some scares behind, and Di Gregorio released a new quality parade, on a strike from Bellingham this time (52nd). He recurred behind on a new distant Madrid attempt, this time (53rd). The last opportunity before the goal …
It is, once again, Gonzalo Garcia who was going to make the difference. Yet little served by his teammates this evening, Trent Alexander-Arnold sent him a good center, which he enjoyed well with a powerful head under the bar (1-0, 54th). An opening of the fairly logical score in view of the progress of this second period. Behind, Conceiçao tried to surprise Courtois, without success (55th). Fede Valverde was on the verge of a golazo on an acrobatic return, but he still rose to the Piedmontese porter, who was really starting to save his team (60th). A completely different Real Madrid in the first period, and Kylian Mbappé entered the 68th minute in place of Gonzalo in a hard rock cafe acquired in his cause and boiling. Juventus was not yet dead yet, like Nico Gonzalez, author of a crossed strike that spun the post (70th). Khephren Thuram cut a good service from Vinicius to Mbappé, who was in the surface to send the leather to the bottom (81st). The Bondynois seemed quite physically sharp, while Di Gregorio offered himself yet another decisive intervention, on a strike from Tchouameni (83rd). Clearly, the Transalpine porter was avoiding a big score, and it is thanks to him that the score has no longer moved. In quarters, the Merengues will challenge the duel winner between Borussia Dortmund and Monterrey which will take place in the night.
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