It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. 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 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 concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
Juventus, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was deflected past the post.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the instep of his foot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović outpaced Militão, using his strength and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently 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, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final 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, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception 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 standard I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
