It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, 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 believed they were in front, the forward a little unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the instep of his boot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender 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 flew in to deny Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. 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 added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. 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.”