While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition 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 opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out 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. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to stop Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
