While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted 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,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Then what tends to happen happened, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, 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. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know 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 nonetheless good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
