While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win leaves 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 consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to stop Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
