While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a match 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 closing stages; their current situation however presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; another chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and set up his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the area where the keeper saved.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding 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 underperformed 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 intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
