While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. 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 closing stages; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced his marker, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the stop made good by the score that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments Courtois flew in to stop the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, 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 good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
