A New Edition Of A Historic Champions League Clash

European nights don’t come much bigger than this. On Wednesday, the Santiago Bernabéu will once again be the stage as Real Madrid welcome Juventus in Matchday Three of the unified Champions League group stage.

This clash revives memories of some of the biggest encounters between the two clubs — most famously the 1998 final, when Los Blancos ended a 32-year wait for European glory with a single goal, and the 2017 final, when they clinched their 12th crown in emphatic style with a 4-1 victory, Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way with two goals.

Juventus’ most recent trip to Madrid remains clouded in controversy. In 2018, they felt they were mistreated by referee Michael Oliver, who awarded Real a stoppage-time penalty converted by Ronaldo to book their place in the semifinals.

Earlier in that tie, Madrid had already stunned Turin with a 3-0 first-leg win — a night remembered for Ronaldo’s breathtaking bicycle kick, applauded even by the Juventus faithful. Many believe that moment was decisive in his decision to join the Bianconeri the following season.

That quarterfinal was their last Champions League encounter, although the two sides crossed paths again this July in the round of 16 of the revamped Club World Cup, where Real progressed thanks to a goal from Gonçalo García.

The Spanish giants once again look the team to beat, having kicked off their European campaign with wins over Marseille (2-1) and Kairat Almaty (5-0), while also sitting top of La Liga with eight wins from nine games.

By contrast, Juventus coach Igor Tudor is feeling the heat after a run of six games without a win. His side were held to draws by Borussia Dortmund (4-4) and Villarreal (2-2) in the Champions League before falling to their first Serie A defeat of the season at Como (0-2) last weekend.

Here are some stats that will help you predict the correct score and win big with Betway:

• This will be the 22nd encounter between Real Madrid and Juventus in the European Cup/Champions League – only Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid has been played more often (28).
• Real Madrid have gone on to lift the trophy in three of their last four Champions League campaigns where they faced Juventus (2013-14, 2016-17, 2017-18). The exception was 2014-15, when Juve knocked them out in the semifinals 3-2 on aggregate.
• Madrid have scored 18 goals across their last five Champions League group stage matches, winning all five. They’ve also triumphed in 12 of their last 13 home group stage games, the only slip being a 3-1 defeat to Milan in November 2024.
• Juventus have won just once in their last 11 Champions League away games (D5 L5) — a 3-2 victory over Leipzig in October 2024. Four of their last five away matches have ended in draws (L1).
• Kylian Mbappé tops this season’s Champions League scoring charts with five goals (two against Marseille and a hat-trick versus Kairat Almaty). The record for most goals after three games of a Champions League season is seven, set by Filippo Inzaghi (Milan, 2002-03) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, 2013-14) — both of whom went on to win the tournament.

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