While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing 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, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot directly through the center to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
