It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final 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 get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
