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 outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; another chance with the head was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his boot directly through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which struck 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 half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop the midfielder, his job done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
