It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and set up his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: 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 the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, 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 standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
