It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's 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 made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, firing off 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 believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by 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 back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to stop the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the instep of his foot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward 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 opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while 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 incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells 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 system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
