While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny 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 long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 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 still good moments 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 take lessons.”
