It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with the French defender running and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to stop Thuram, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last 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 moment, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level 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 system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
