It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make 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.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the center to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio 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. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
