Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals, including an overhead kick stunner, as Juventus lost their first Champions League home game since 2013 and saw Paulo Dybala sent off.
The Old Lady had been unbeaten in 27 European home games, winning 16 and drawing 11, since Bayern Munich conquered Antonio Conte’s side here in April 2013.
See how it all unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals, including an overhead kick stunner, as Juventus lost their first Champions League home game since 2013 and saw Paulo Dybala sent off.
The Old Lady had been unbeaten in 27 European home games, winning 16 and drawing 11, since Bayern Munich conquered Antonio Conte’s side here in April 2013.
See how it all unfolded on the LIVEBLOG.
This was the first meeting between the giants since last year’s Final in Cardiff, which the Merengues won 4-1 to become the first side to retain the trophy since Milan in 1989-90. Miralem Pjanic and Medhi Benatia were suspended, with Federico Bernardeschi injured and Mario Mandzukic not 100 per cent fit. Max Allegri transformed with a 4-4-2 formation, turning into 4-2-3-1 in attack, with Douglas Costa and Alex Sandro as wingers. Zinedine Zidane opted for the same starting XI that won last year’s Final.
It took Real Madrid just three minutes to break the deadlock with the aid of a series of defensive errors. Isco was left in acres of space to put in a low cross from the left (nutmegging Rodrigo Bentancur) and Cristiano Ronaldo was left unmarked by Andrea Barzagli to tap in off the outside of the boot from seven yards.
That goal meant CR7 was the first in history to score in 10 consecutive Champions League games and Real Madrid had found the net in each of their last 24 European matches.
Juve reacted strongly and Paulo Dybala combined with Sami Khedira to burst into the box, but Sergio Ramos blocked his shot with a desperate sliding challenge.
Raphael Varane’s free header from a corner was over the bar, while Bentancur scuffed a promising chance from 12 yards on Higuain’s assist.
Higuain thought he’d equalised on 23 minutes when meeting a Dybala free kick with the inside of the right boot, but Keylor Navas flew to fingertip it out from under the bar from point-blank range.
Douglas Costa’s poor first touch ruined a fine team move created by Sami Khedira and Dybala, while Bentancur was booked and will be suspended for the second leg.
Mattia De Sciglio’s low cross-shot flashed inches past both the far post and Dybala’s foot sliding in, but Toni Kroos hit a scorcher from distance that smacked against the bar with Gigi Buffon beaten.
Juve should’ve drawn level on 38 minutes from a corner, but Giorgio Chiellini fluffed the free header into the ground and Higuain couldn’t scramble in the rebound.
The hosts had two penalty appeals on the stroke of half-time. On the first, it looked like ball-to-hand on Casemiro after a Chiellini header from close range, on the second Dybala was booked for simulation. Although La Joya did little to stay on his feet, there did seem to be contact with Casemiro’s knee.
After the restart, Cristiano Ronaldo’s angled drive flashed across the face of goal to skim the far post. Ramos tripped Dybala just outside the box and will be suspended for the second leg at the Bernabeu. The Argentine’s free kick was deflected wide with Navas sent the wrong way.
Real Madrid doubled their lead in truly spectacular fashion. Chiellini’s back-pass caused chaos, Buffon flew to parry the Lucas Vazquez effort, but could do nothing when the cross came back in for Cristiano Ronaldo’s overhead kick. It was a glorious finish and the Allianz Juventus Stadium crowd reacted by giving the Ballon d’Or winner a standing ovation.
Juve lost the plot moments later, as Dybala received his second yellow card for a very high foot that struck Carvajal in the midriff and was sent off.
Allegri made his substitutions too late and Real Madrid ran riot, as Marcelo completed two quick triangles to enter the area and dink the third goal over Buffon.
Former Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic almost added a fourth late on, but his strike cracked against the crossbar, then Buffon smothered a Cristiano Ronaldo finish that went through De Sciglio's legs at the near bottom corner.
Ronaldo missed arguably his easiest chance of the game in stoppages, volleying over unmarked from seven yards, but then Juan Cuadrado missed a sitter with the last kick of the game.
Juventus 0-3 Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo 3, 64 (RM), Marcelo 72 (RM)
Juventus: Buffon; De Sciglio, Barzagli, Chiellini, Asamoah (Mandzukic 69); Douglas Costa (Matuidi 69), Khedira (Cuadrado 74), Bentancur, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Higuain
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric (Kovacic 81); Isco (Asensio 75); Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema (Lucas Vazquez 58)
Ref: Cakir (TUR)
Sent off: Dybala 66 (J)