Coach Alonso was alarmed as Real Madrid nearly let Juventus equalize

Coach Xabi Alonso acknowledged that Real Madrid faced multiple instances where Juventus nearly equalized.

Xabi Alonso confirmed that Real Madrid encountered "many challenging moments" during thehard-fought 1-0 victory over Juventus and were at risk of conceding an equalizer in the final minutes. The Spanish strategist stated "Anything could still happen" in the closing moments when Real was only leading by one goal.

Thibaut Courtois had to make several crucial saves for Real Madrid, while Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio also faced numerous tests, including a clearance off the line by Federico Gatti. Nevertheless, the Italian visitors ultimately suffered defeat due to Bellingham's lone goal for Real.

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso shared with Sky Sport Italia: "We expected this to be a tough match, considering the quality of Juve’s players and their playing style. We knew it would be a difficult and balanced game, with many moments where we almost conceded. I told the team at halftime that we had to keep playing like this and keep applying pressure until Real Madrid’s scoring moment finally came.

Real Madrid couldn’t finish off the opponent, so anything could still happen. Both teams had numerous chances tonight; we have reasons to be disappointed, but so does Juve. The defense and both goalkeepers performed well."

I also predicted Juventus would defend very solidly, with strong individual qualities, fierce fighting spirit, and Vlahovic being very dangerous in one-on-one duels. They train hard and will surely improve as the season progresses,"

Real Madrid hopes to maintain their momentum in the Champions League ahead of the crucial El Clasico this weekend against their archrivals Barcelona in La Liga. When asked if any injured players might recover, Xabi Alonso said: "We have to wait and see. Raul Asencio needs to be reassessed."

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