While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with the French defender running and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be called for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; another headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn 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 scoring. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to halt the runner at the start of the second half, 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 ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the center to past the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with 15 goals, 14 assists, 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 still positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
