While it wasn't a match for the ages, 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 fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot directly through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “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 part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard 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 learn from it.”