While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly 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. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen 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 Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, 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 superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the area. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still 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 new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
