It may not have been a classic encounter, 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' singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts 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 visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward a little unlucky to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the center to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his job done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
