It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Win
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
Juventus, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. 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. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play 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 far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the center to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
