Real Madrid manager praises midfielder's clinical finishing and all-round performance after Champions League victory over Juventus

[OSEN=Jeong Seung-woo Reporter] Real Madrid manager Sabi Alonso, 44 years old, praised Jude Bellingham, 22 years old, Real Madrid.

Real Madrid defeated Juventus 1-0 in the third match of the league phase of the 2025-2026 season UEFA Champions League held at Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, Spain on the 23rd, Korean time.

With this, Real maintained their position at the top of the group with three consecutive wins (9 points), while Juventus remained in 25th place with two draws and one loss (2 points).

The first half ended without any goals, with both teams' goalkeepers making crucial saves. In the 13th minute of the second half, after Vini Jr.'s shot hit the post, Jude Bellingham calmly slotted the ball in to break the deadlock.

Subsequently, Kylian Mbappé and Brahim Díaz attempted to add to the lead but were denied by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's saves. Juventus also launched counterattacks with Dušan Vlahović and Loïs Openda but failed to overcome the wall of Thibaut Courtois.

Real maintained their focus until the end to secure a clean-sheet victory, continuing their upward trajectory in both the league and European competitions.

After the match, UEFA Champions League shared an interview with manager Sabi Alonso on their official website. Alonso stated, "I knew today's game would be very intense. It was a really hard-fought victory."

He also expressed some regret, saying, "We had a good start, and once we scored, the momentum shifted in our favor. If we had been a bit more precise, we could have extended the lead."

Alonso added, "I'm really satisfied with the result. Arda Güler is in the process of growing in all aspects. Although he's only 20 years old, he has already played around 30 matches for this club. While he still needs to improve in areas like pressing, he has a lot of talent. The regulation of the game's tempo and positioning (on the flank or centrally) depends on various factors, but I'm satisfied with his development so far."

Regarding substitutions, he explained, "Since Juventus deployed at least three attackers in the closing stages, we made changes accordingly. Such situations naturally occur in the Champions League. There were some complex moments while protecting the lead, but it was nothing out of the ordinary."

Alonso had nothing but praise for Bellingham. He said, "Bellingham was not only clinical in front of goal but also delivered a perfect overall performance today. He was excellent in the previous match against Getafe, but today was even better. He is highly competitive and always creates threatening moments. I'm really proud of him."

Alonso evaluated, "Bellingham is a balanced midfielder who participates in attacks and drops deep during defense. He possesses attacking talent and instinct but can also cover box-to-box roles, making him one of the most complete players in the world."

He added, "In the second half, Bellingham demonstrated both roles. He showed the ability to finish and create chances upfront, as well as to regain possession and drive forward from deeper positions. Although there wasn't much space in the first half, he eventually found the gaps. The key is that he trains diligently, continues to learn, and has the will to grow." /reccos23@osen.co.kr

Alonso Hails Bellingham as World's Most Complete Player