Juventus and Real Madrid will play their last friendlies of the preseason at Camping World Stadium. Nearly exactly one year ago today, the two clubs faced off in California, with Los Blancos coming out on top 2-0 thanks to goals from ex-attackers Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio.
Preview (Juventus vs Real Madrid)
The 2022–23 season for Juventus was, to put it mildly, tumultuous. They dropped to seventh place, 28 points behind Scudetto winners Napoli, and were eliminated from contention for the Champions League. For her time in the Europa Conference League, the Old Lady has been preparing. Juve decided not to challenge UEFA’s ruling. This summer, a number of first-team players have been the subject of speculation about their futures due to a lack of European football and financial issues. Next season, they want to reclaim the top spot in Italian football. Last Friday in California, they eventually left for their opening exhibition game versus AC Milan, another team from Serie A. 2-2 draw that was followed by a 4-3 victory on penalties.
Pre-season
Danilo scored on either side of goals from Malick Thiaw and Olivier Giroud to give Milan a 2-1 advantage. Just three minutes after the half, Daniele Rugani scored an equalizer, one day before his 29th birthday. Juve won the penalty shootout after missing two of their attempts, with academy graduate Matias Soule converting the game-winning kick. Juventus will take on Real Madrid on Thursday in an effort to win for the first time against in any competition since April 2018, when they secured a 3-1 second-leg victory in the Champions League quarterfinals, despite losing 4-3 on aggregate. Juventus will open the new Serie A season away at Udinese on August 20.
Real Madrid had won their first two preseason games on their tour of the United States, defeating AC Milan (3-2) and Manchester United (2-0), and was feeling good going into last weekend’s El Clasico meeting with rivals Barcelona. While Real can be proud of winning the Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup last year. Los Blancos will be looking to avoid losing in La Liga and the Champions League in 2023–24. With their first La Liga match of the new campaign against Athletic Bilbao away on August 12.
Team News
The Juventus tour of the United States has been postponed due to injuries to midfielders Nicolo Fagioli (tonsillitis) and Adrien Rabiot (calf), as well as defender Leonardo Bonucci, who Allegri apparently no longer needs. The Italian club has been linked with moves for players like Weston McKennie, Gleison Bremer, Fabio Miretti, and Federico Chiesa this summer. The foursome played against Milan and may do so again against Real Madrid. Aside from Chiesa or Arkadiusz Milik, who recently made a permanent move to Juventus from Marseille, Moise Kean, who overcame a muscle injury to start and play for just under an hour against Milan, could continue in attack.
Both Juventus and Real Madrid will be looking to finish their pre-season preparations in style and put up a strong performance with the new season just around the corner. The outcome of Thursday’s game is of little significance to either side. Although it was sad that Los Blancos were unable to score against Barcelona. We anticipate that they will have better luck in front of goal against Juve. Ancelotti’s team defeated the Italian team in Florida.
Juventus 1 – 2 Real Madrid
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