It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' singing 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 made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he went down to the ground and set up his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently 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 mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
