ZCZC
BSP-01
FBL-ESP-ITA-REALMADRID-JUVENTUS
Asensio scores twice as Real Madrid topples Juventus 3-1
LOS ANGELES, Aug 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Substitute Marco Asensio made an
immediate impact by scoring two early second-half goals as Real Madrid
rallied to beat Juventus 3-1 in a pre-season exhibition contest on Saturday.
Asensio entered the game at the start of the second half and scored less
than two minutes in before adding another in the 56th minute.
It was the first defeat of the pre-season and the final match of the
International Champions Cup campaign for Italy’s Juventus. The Serie A
champions now open up their title defense at Chievo on August 18.
They were without new signing Cristiano Ronaldo, who did not make his
debut against his former team. The Portuguese superstar skipped the club’s US
tour because he was recovering from his World Cup performance.
Gareth Bale also scored for the European champions as the Welshman served
notice that he is going to produce despite the loss of Ronaldo.
Bale hit a stunning shot from 20 yards out in the 39th minute to level the
score at 1-1 in the front of the crowd of 60,000 at FedEx Field in Landover,
Maryland.
Bale finished with 16 La Liga goals last season and is in his fifth
campaign with Real Madrid.
Asensio subbed in after half-time and wasted no time getting on the board.
He finished off a drive by side-footing a shot home in the 47th minute on a
rush with Vinicius Jr., who also entered the game at half-time.
Asensio scored just nine minutes later to make it 3-1 for Real Madrid on
another unselfish pass, this time from Lucas Vazquez. Asensio’s shot
deflected off the right arm of Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and
trickled into the net.
Juventus’ lone score came in the 12th minute on an own goal by Real Madrid
defender Dani Carvajal.
Carvajal was trying to corral Joao Cancelo’s left side cross when he
deflected the ball into his own net.
It was the first pre-season defeat for Juventus, who were without many of
their key attackers for their US tour, including Douglas Costa, Paulo Dybala
and Mario Mandzukic.
In earlier matches, Juventus beat Bayern Munich, Benfica and the Major
League Soccer All-Stars.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0827 hrs