On October 22, 2025, I had the opportunity to attend my first Champions League match of Real Madrid vs. Juventus. Walking up to the stadium, you could already tell that the atmosphere had been electric for hours. Fans crowded the surrounding streets, talking, eating, and drinking as anticipation built before the match began. Inside at Real Madrid’s end of the stadium, a sea of white was already roaring with chants and the rhythm of countless drums. Their huge banner showed a young Lucas Vázquez. Opposite them, Juventus fans made themselves heard with loud whistles and Italian chants.
Real Madrid claimed a narrow 1–0 victory over Juventus at the Bernabéu in a tightly contested Champions League match where Madrid controlled the ball for much of the match. At the same time, Juventus stayed compact and organized defensively.
The hosts managed much of the first half, creating chances through set-pieces and quick breaks, with Mbappé, Brahim Díaz, and Tchouaméni all testing the Italian side. Juventus looked most dangerous on counters and nearly struck early in the second half when Vlahović broke through one-on-one, only for Courtois to deny him. The breakthrough arrived in the 57th minute when Vinícius Júnior’s driving run ended with a shot off the post, leaving Jude Bellingham to slot home the rebound calmly.
Madrid continued to push forward, forcing several saves, while Juventus stayed compact but struggled to find a late response. In the end, Real Madrid’s pressure and sharper finishing proved decisive, though Juventus’s organization and resilience kept the match competitive throughout.
As the final whistle echoed through the Bernabéu, the stadium erupted—some in relief, others in frustration, but all united in passion. Walking out among thousands of fans, I felt nothing but gratitude for witnessing football at this level for the first time. And this is only the beginning; there’s so much more to come.