It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, 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 Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the center to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, 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 incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform 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 failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
