It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike 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.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender running and the striker combining, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward a little unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
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 risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“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 get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling 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 aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
