While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting 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 wide open, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds Courtois dived to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
