Real Madrid vs. Juventus: Score and Grades from 2015 Champions League Semi-Final | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Robert Spencer
Published Mar 25, 2026
Juventus will play in a Champions League final for the first time in 12 years after a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu saw them triumph, 3-2, on aggregate in this semi-final tie.
A strike from former Los Blancos man Alvaro Morata after the break cancelled out a first-half penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo; it was an away goal which sapped the life out of the hosts, as the Italians shut up shop superbly in the latter stages.
Naturally, the Juventus Twitter feed was delighted by the team's progression:
Dermot Corrigan @dermotmcorriganAllegri: "It was tense on the bench, but we were focused on the game. Trying to score a second goal. We were able to dominate by end."
Both managers made daring selections in their respective teams. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti brought Karim Benzema back into the side after his recent injury layoff, while Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri did the same with Paul Pogba despite his recent fitness problems.
Dermot Corrigan @dermotmcorriganAllegri "At HT I told them chances would come. They would suffer in middle of park. This is extraordinary result, to eliminate Real Madrid."
With their men needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg, the Madridistas gave their side a strong show of support as their heroes approached the stadium, per Bleacher Report UK:
JuventusFC @juventusfcenFULL-TIME: #RealJuve 1-1. Game over at the Bernabeu. WE ARE IN THE @ChampionsLeague FINAL!!! #FORZAJUVE #UCL
It was a momentum which the La Liga side carried into the opening stages of this game, as they came flying out of the traps before a raucous home crowd. Gareth Bale actually missed a chance to put Real ahead inside the first minute, with the reigning champions setting a blistering early tempo.
Even Juve—who had not conceded a goal in the tournament away from home since late October—struggled to cope at the back. So it was little surprise when Giorgio Chiellini gave away a penalty in the 22nd minute, committing a clumsy foul on James Rodriguez.
Ronaldo, who had a penalty saved against Valencia at the weekend, made no mistake from the spot, putting it down the middle. As Dermot Corrigan of ESPN.com noted, it was a landmark goal for the Los Blancos No. 7:
B/R Football @brfootballMore #scenes from the Bernabéu as the Real Madrid team bus arrives for #RMAJUV (via @SocialRMadrid)
Buoyed by that goal, Real roared forward. Ronaldo was an eminent threat on the counter-attack, and he spurned a couple of opportunities—once when he opted to pass instead of shoot from eight yards out and again when he lashed wide from the edge of the penalty area after a mesmeric first touch.
Juve clung on until half-time, knowing they would now need an away goal to progress. As Squawka Football pointed out, Ronaldo had run the Italian champions ragged in the first 45 minutes:
The second half saw Juventus start a lot better, with a nervy Madrid side making numerous errors inside their own half. When Sergio Ramos conceded a needless free-kick in the 57th minute, they were made to pay the ultimate price.
Andrea Pirlo floated the delivery into the back post; Pogba beat Ramos to the header. And there to pick up the loose ball was former Madrid striker Morata, who hammered hard into the ground past Iker Casillas. As Henry Winter of the Daily Telegraph observed, the forward chose not to celebrate what was an enormous goal for his new team:
Dermot Corrigan @dermotmcorriganRonaldo takes his record of CL semi-final goals to 10. Also joins Messi on 10 as topscorer in this season's competition.
It was a moment which plunged the Santiago Bernabeu into a malaise. While the fans had previously been unwavering in their support, after Juve grabbed the vital away goal, they now met every poor touch with angst from the stands, and a real hesitancy crept into Real's previously fluid offensive forays.
Squawka Football @SquawkaCristiano Ronaldo's first half by numbers: 100% take-ons 3 shots 1 chance created 1 goal The difference.
Juve actually had a major chance to break the tie, as neat interplay between Morata and Arturo Vidal put Claudio Marchisio in on goal, but Casillas pulled off an excellent save to keep the holders alive. Bleacher Report's Matteo Bonetti hailed the Spanish stopper's effort:
Henry Winter @henrywinterEx-Factor….Morata scores, doesn’t celebrate against his old team. Poor defending by Real Madrid. 1-1. Juventus lead 3-2 agg.
With Allegri sacrificing the midfield intricacy of Pirlo for the robust defensive instincts of Andrea Barzagli, the Serie A side's intentions were clear going into the last 10 minutes. But try as they might, Real were unable to breach what was fast looking an impenetrable back line. Remarkably, the visitors saw out the final embers of this one with minimal fuss.
Bleacher Report's Karl Matchett paid tribute to Juventus' superb display:
The Bianconeri have boasted a stranglehold on the domestic title over the past four years, but there’s been an unshakable sense that if this team are going to put a seal on their greatness, success in Europe is vital, too.
Matteo Bonetti @TheCalcioGuyMarchisio nearly scores! Heroics from Casillas
While Barcelona will represent formidable final opposition, Allegri—who deserves immense credit for this run—and his troops will fancy their chances of toppling anyone at this juncture. There’s a festering sense that this Juve group is destiny’s team in 2015, and after 19 years of hurt in Europe’s top-tier competition, the Old Lady is bristling with pride once again.
Cristiano Ronaldo: B
It was the kind of game in which Real needed a talismanic figure, and Ronaldo obliged with a blistering display. His penalty showcased nerves of steel, and in a floating role from the left, he had the Bianconeri bamboozled throughout the entirety of the first period. Sadly for Real, he was unable to have quite the same impact in the second half.
Alvaro Morata: A
With Madrid bossing possession in this one, the Spaniard was always going to be feeding off scraps. But when his chance materialised, he gobbled it up with distinction. Morata was always willing, was irrepressible in his industry and showed his former employers exactly what they were missing on a night the hosts spurned a plethora of opportunities.
Gareth Bale: D
The Welshman had another disappointing game. He was wasteful in possession, rarely showed up for the ball and when chances did come about—especially one header at the back post in the second half—was profligate in front of goal. An interesting summer is surely in store for Bale, who was the subject of more jeers from the Bernabeu crowd.
Post-Match Reaction
Ancelotti discussed his team's performance in the wake of such a disappointing elimination and had to answer questions about his own future too, per AS:
Karl Matchett @karlmatchettJuve fully deserving of that. For all their names and millions, RMA had no answer and no changes. Poor on their part - massive congrats MA.
AS English @English_ASAncelotti: "We attacked a lot, with quality, had lots of chances to get the second"
Allegri revealed that even when his side were losing at the break, he was confident they would eventually emerge victorious, per Corrigan:
AS English @English_ASAncelotti says overall result down to first leg, but team put in the effort they had to tonight.
