While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury 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 put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash 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, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to deny Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand 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 standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
