It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s 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 opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. And soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
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 mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. 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 first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
