It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back broke free on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, 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.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot directly through the middle to past the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the goal that comes after 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 post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his work complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 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 still good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
