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 south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was deflected past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the stop made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still 15 goals, 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 standard I aim 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 learn from it.”
