While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
