While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to halt the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny Thuram, his job done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, 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 thinking of that moment, returning 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 play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
