It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly 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 is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the level 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 learn from it.”
