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 south end with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points 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 reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender running and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was deflected past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the center to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of 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 learn from it.”
