Juventus expose Real Madrid’s defensive weakness in final game of United States tour

Real Madrid completed their pre-season tour of the United States with a second successive defeat, this time to Juventus, leaving boss Carlo Ancelotti with more questions than answers heading into the new campaign. While Vinicius once again showed his devastating attacking prowess and the team functioned well between both penalty areas, they were not sharp enough in front of goal or resolute enough defending their own. Perhaps Kylian Mbappé could solve one of those issues...

The rest, however, is up to Ancelotti to work out. In Orlando, Los Blancos started sluggishly and by the time they took control of the game, were unable to make it count. Other than Vinicius, only Eduardo Camavinga and Fran García were worthy of pass marks. There is plenty of room improvement is needed before the real action gets underway against Athletic Club at San Mamés on Saturday 12 August.

Kroos, Modric and Bellingham start together

For the first time, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham lined up together, with Ancelotti opting for skill rather than strength in midfield in comparison to El Clásico against Barcelona in Dallas. The Italian coach freshened up his back four, while Joselu started up front in the hope that Madrid could be more clinical in the final third.

The midfield trio worked well with the ball but struggled somewhat without it against what is not exactly a vintage Juve side, who won’t be competing in European competition in 2023/24 due to some dubious financial dealings. As things stand, they have made only one signing this summer in the shape of USMNT star Timothy Weah, son of AC Milan legend George.

Defensive vulnerability leads to disastrous start against Juve

Yet it took them all of 49 seconds to edge in front. Modric uncharacteristically lost possession inside his own half, leading to a long-range shot from Weston McKennie which cannoned off the post and into the path of Moise Kean, who prodded into the net from close range.

While Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Los Merengues flattered the Catalans, there were also some worrying signs for Ancelotti in that defeat. Madrid struggled to deal with being pressed high up the field and were prone to defensive lapses when not in possession. Those traits were again seen against Juventus, despite the presence of Kroos in the holding role and both Modric and Camavinga in central midfield. Central defenders Antonio Rüdiger and Nacho, neither of whom will likely be a first-choice pick, were also caught out.

There was plenty of action in the opening stages, with opportunities to score at either end and a penalty claim for Vinicius, who always found ways to make something happen in attack as Madrid looked for him time and time and time again. Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a fine save to deny the Brazilian, while Rüdiger and Camavinga also had decent sights of goal.

As had been the case against Barça, Los Blancos’ attacking efforts had no reward, while the Italians looked threatening every time they ventured forward on the counterattack, with the high-profile names in the Madrid midfield doing little to protect a makeshift defence. With 20 minutes in, Federico Chiesa and McKennie combined on the left to square the ball for Weah, who was left unmarked to score past the helpless Thibaut Courtois from close range.

Vinicius again the main threat for Real Madrid

Joselu missed when it looked easier to score, Szczesny was on hand to save a left-footed strike from Bellingham, who was barely involved in the first half-an-hour, and Vinicius was once again denied by the frame of the goal as he attempt to loft the ball over the Polish stopper.

With half time approaching, however, Kroos played the ball in behind Danilo for the winger to run on to and he kept his cool to reduce the deficit. The goal changed the goal, with Madrid, as we have seen so many times, bouncing back into a contest they had looked down and out in. And it was all thanks to Vinicius.

Los Blancos control second half but fail to take advantage

Juve boss Max Allegri made a raft of changes in the second half, but that wasn’t enough to stop the momentum swinging in Real Madrid’s favour. García, Bellingham and Joselu all came close to drawing the Spaniards level as they went on the attack, while Vinicius continued to prove unstoppable.

Ancelotti also rotated his eleven, adding strength and physicality in the closing stages with the introductions of Aurélien Tchouameni, David Alaba, Eder Militao and Fede Valverde. The Uruguayan was next to hit the woodwork with a shot against the crossbar.

The match eventually fizzled out, however, especially once Vinicius had been replaced by Brahim Díaz with 15 minutes left. Even so, the LaLiga side thought they should have had the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, but Barrenechea’s foul on Rodrygo was judged to have taken place outside the box. Madrid’s moment had gone and Juventus, like Barça days earlier, scored a third in dying moments, Vlahovic bundling the ball in from just a few yards out with Ancelotti’s side ruthlessly exposed on the break once again.

Juventus

• 1 Szczesny (45')
• 6 Danilo (71')
• 3 Bremer (66')
• 12 Alex Sandro (45')
• 17 Filip Kostic (71')
• 5 Manuel Locatelli (72')
• Tim Weah (45')
• 8 Weston McKennie (66')
• 20 Fabio Miretti (45')
• 7 Federico Chiesa (76')
• 18 Kean (45')
• Substitutes
• 30 Matìas Soulè Malvano (71')
• Andrea Cambiaso (45')
• 14 Milik (45')
• 15 Federico Gatti (45')
• Kenan Yildiz
• 24 Daniele Rugani (66')
• Joseph Nonge
• Giovanni Daffara
• Dean Huijsen (71')
• 9 Dusan Vlahovic (76')
• 45 Koni de Winter
• 41 Hans Nicolussi Caviglia (66')
• 43 Samuel Iling (45')
• 45 Enzo Barrenechea (72')
• 23 Pinsoglio (45')

Real Madrid

• 1 Courtois
• 20 Fran Garcia (77')
• 6 Nacho (62') -
• 22 Rüdiger (62')
• 17 Lucas Vázquez (62') -
• 10 Modric (62')
• 5 Jude Bellingham
• 8 Kroos (82')
• 12 Camavinga (62')
• 7 Vinicius Junior (76')
• 14 Joselu (62')
• Substitutes
• 15 Federico Valverde (62')
• 13 Andriy Lunin
• 4 Alaba (62')
• 11 Rodrygo (62')
• 26 Diego Piñeiro
• 27 Nico Paz (82')
• 2 Dani Carvajal (62')
• 30 Francisco González
• 16 Álvaro Odriozola (77')
• 21 Brahim Diaz (76')
• 3 Eder Militao (62')
• 18 Aurelien Tchouameni (62')

Substitutions

Federico Gatti (45', Alex Sandro), Carlo Pinsoglio (45', Wojciech Szczesny), Arkadiusz Milik (45', Moise Kean), Andrea Cambiaso (45', Timothy Weah), Samuel Iling-Junior (45', Fabio Miretti), Rodrygo (62', Joselu), Aurélien Tchouaméni (62', Antonio Rüdiger), Éder Militão (62', Nacho), Dani Carvajal (62', Lucas Vázquez), Federico Valverde (62', Luka Modric), David Alaba (62', Eduardo Camavinga), Daniele Rugani (66', Bremer), Hans Nicolussi Caviglia (66', Weston McKennie), Dean Huijsen (71', Danilo), Matìas Soulé (71', Filip Kostic), Enzo Barrenechea (72', Manuel Locatelli), Dusan Vlahovic (76', Federico Chiesa), Brahim Díaz (76', Vinícius Júnior), Álvaro Odriozola (77', Fran García), Nico Paz (82', Toni Kroos)

Goals

1-0, 0': Kean, 2-0, 19': Tim Weah, 2-1, 37': Vinicius Junior, 3-1, 94': Dusan Vlahovic

Cards

Referee: Ismail Elfath
Bremer (3',Yellow) Federico Gatti (53',Yellow) Manuel Locatelli (55',Yellow) Enzo Barrenechea (88',Yellow) Milik (92',Yellow)