Juventus Faces Villarreal in Critical Champions League Clash

VILLARREAL, Spain — Juventus travels to Estadio de la Cerámica on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, to face Villarreal in search of their first win in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Both teams are under pressure after disappointing openings to the campaign.

Villarreal, led by manager Marcelino García, opened their Champions League season with a narrow defeat to Tottenham Hotspur but rebounded in La Liga, winning their last three matches, including a 2-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao.

Juventus, managed by Igor Tudor, also seeks to halt its streak of draws. The club recently settled for a 1-1 draw against Atalanta in Serie A, marking their third consecutive draw across all competitions.

These two teams have history in the Champions League, with Villarreal eliminating Juventus in the last 16 during the 2021-22 season. In two previous encounters, Villarreal secured a draw at home and a 3-0 victory away in Turin.

Juventus arrives without key players, including defender Gleison Bremer and midfielder Khephren Thuram, both sidelined due to injuries. Tudor commented on the challenge, emphasizing the need for players to step up: “The team is doing very well. I liked their performance three days ago: serious and of a high level.”

In contrast, Villarreal aims to continue their strong home record, having won all four matches at home in La Liga this season and outscoring opponents 10-1. The team’s recent clean sheet against Sevilla boosts their confidence ahead of the match.

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. local time in Spain (8 p.m. in the UK, 3 p.m. ET). The match will be broadcast on TNT Sports and streamed on various platforms.

This fixture marks a crucial point for both sides as they aim to gain momentum early in the UEFA Champions League campaign.