While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually 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 Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; another 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 smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny Thuram, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform was important and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
