It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third deflected wide; another headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform 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 fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
