Three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Juventus | UEFA Champions League | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Getafe at the weekend was ugly, but necessary for it is only such hard-drilled games that win championships.

Having come out safe from a difficult fortress, Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabeu where they host two European giants in two games, the first being Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.

The Bianconeri have not been in the best form domestically and have three wins and three draws in seven league games so far. Their performance in the Champions League has not been much better as they boast of two draws in as many games.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are one of just six teams to have six points in two games and will look to make it nine after three tomorrow night.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Juventus.

The Bellingham puzzle

Jude Bellingham’s stint at Real Madrid so far has been successful in every sense of the word and the Englishman has truly lived up to the massive fee the club spent on his signing.

Given his performances in recent seasons, one would have never expected a time when there would be tangible doubt as to where the player is best placed on the field – especially considering he has shone in the attacking midfield role.

Arda Guler’s rise this season under Xabi Alonso, particularly during the spell Bellingham faced on the sidelines after surgery, has complicated his situation. The Englishman is now back in the dynamics but still does not have a clear spot on the field.

It is clear that Bellingham is critical to Real Madrid’s performance on the field and that dropping him is not an option. The manager, thus, must find where to fit the youngster into his dynamics, and with Barcelona and Liverpool coming up, there is not much time.

The coming games, particularly the midweek clash against Juventus, will thus serve as a big chance for Alonso to find where Bellingham fits best into his formation – as a central midfielder or an attacking midfielder – and how he can operate in tandem with Guler.

Rest or risk Trent

Trent is set to return. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)

The big news ahead of the Juventus clash, needless to say, was the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to group training and all signs point to him being named in the squad to face The Old Lady.

With Dani Carvajal and the new signing injured over the past month, Real Madrid have been forced to operate without a natural player in the position and Federico Valverde stepped up to the task.

With Trent now back in the squad, the manager thus has a massive decision to take – whether to rest the 27-year-old and give him a cameo in the second half or risk him as a starter to ensure he has the best possible option playing in the department.

Both ideas have their sets of pros and cons. While playing Trent as a starter will indeed help boost Real Madrid’s attack down the right flank against Juventus, the player may indeed not be ready or match-fit for that role yet.

Keeping him out of the XI, however, will mean placing one of the most important pieces in midfield – Federico Valverde – back at right-back and compromising the stability through the middle. Needless to say, a massive decision awaits Alonso.

Momentum for the big night

While Juventus is indeed an elite European opponent and will be Real Madrid’s only focus at the moment, one cannot help but wonder if the weekend’s Clasico is playing on either the manager’s or the players’ minds.

Barcelona, after all, traumatised Real Madrid last season and swept them clean across all competitions. A win over the Blaugrana this weekend will go a long way in re-establishing that Los Blancos are back, and the men in white will require all the momentum they can get.

At the moment, it is safe to say that Real Madrid have been the better of the two teams and are the more consistent side compared to their rivals. What Barcelona do have, however, is a fiery attack and a better grip on the possession game.

A win over Juventus midweek, more than the three points in the UEFA Champions League, will hand Alonso’s men some serious momentum ahead of El Clasico and push them forward to come good at the weekend.

After all, a win over Barcelona will not only be a psychological boost but a massive boost on the table, one that Real Madrid simply cannot let go of.