Sunday, July 31, 2022 at 10:14 am• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 10:15

Real Madrid have won this preparation for the first time. Carlo Ancelotti’s team was 2-0 too strong for Juventus in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Karim Benzema broke the spell halfway through the first half with a penalty kick, after which Marcos Asensio doubled the score twenty minutes before time. The Royal plays the European Super Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt on August 10, after which Almeria is the first opponent in LaLiga four days later.

Ancelotti showed a strong starting eleven and awarded Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, David Alaba and Benzema, among others, a starting spot. The latter managed to score after nine seconds (!), but was rightly called back due to offside. Juventus countered that with a dangerous free kick from Leonardo Bonucci. The defender tried from great distance, but hit the top of the bar. Not much later, the spell was broken by Benzema. The French striker was allowed to build from eleven meters after a foul on Vinícius Júnior and did not fail: 1-0.

At Juventus, a basic place was made available for Ángel Di María, but the Argentinian was unable to break any pots against his former employer. He was relieved halfway through the game by Juan Cuadrado. Halfway through, Ancelotti brought Antonio Rüdiger for Éder Militão and exchanged almost his entire team after more than an hour of play. Asensio came in for Federico Valverde and was accurate five minutes later. The attacker was served by Jesús Vallejo and easily rounded off with the left: 2-0.

It only meant the first victory for Real in the preparation, after they were no match against Barcelona (0-1) and against Club America got stuck in a draw (2-2). Juventus will have another showdown with Atlético Madrid next week. Real is preparing for the European Super Cup against Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt. That game will be played on August 10 in Helsinki. Four days later, Ancelotte’s formation kicks off the LaLiga season against PhD student Almeria.