While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender running and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
