While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
