While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the campaign, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the closest 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 did appear it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the goal that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was important and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber 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.”
