It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which struck the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the area. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
