Real Madrid maintained their perfect start to the UEFA Champions League group stage with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Juventus, joining an elite group of five clubs with a 100% record after three matchdays.

Despite the result, it wasn’t a vintage performance from Los Blancos — and the true star of the night was neither a midfielder nor a forward, but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who delivered a man-of-the-match display to keep the Italians at bay.

In the first half alone, Courtois pulled off two crucial saves, denying both Weston McKennie and Federico Gatti from close range. But it was a second-half duel with Dusan Vlahovic that truly underlined his world-class credentials. The Serbian striker broke free from the halfway line, breezing past Éder Militão and bearing down on goal — only to see Courtois stand tall and block the shot in a defining moment of the match.

Moments later, it was time for Vinícius Júnior to take centre stage. The Brazilian winger rolled back the clock with a dazzling dribble inside the box, gliding past his marker before firing a low shot towards the far post. The effort struck the woodwork, but Jude Bellingham was first to react, smashing home the rebound to give Real Madrid the decisive goal.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Real - Juventus 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: Bellingham, 57 (1:0)

Real: Courtois; Asencio R. (García G., 88); Militão; Fernandez Ál.; Tchouaméni; Güler A. (Camavinga, 74); Diaz Br. (Mastantuono, 84); Bellingham; Valverde F.; Vinícius Júnior (García Fr., 83); Mbappé
Substitution: Camavinga (from 74); García Fr. (from 83); Mastantuono (from 84); García G. (from 88)
Bench: Lunin Andriy; Gonzalez Fran; Mendy Fe.; Pitarch; Endrick; Rodrygo
Yellow Cards: Diaz Br. 61

Juventus: Di Gregorio; Gatti; Rugani; Kelly Ll.; Kalulu; Cambiaso А. (Kostić F., 88); Koopmeiners T. (Locatelli, 75); Thuram K. (Conceicao F., 62); McKennie; Vlahović (David J., 75); Yildiz (Openda, 75)
Substitution: Conceicao F. (from 62); Locatelli (from 75); David J. (from 75); Openda (from 75); Kostić F. (from 88)
Bench: Perin; João Mário Neto; Miretti; Zhegrova; Adžić