It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot directly through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. 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 operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
