It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' rendition of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After 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; their current situation however makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory 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, especially with the French defender running and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the score that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé 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 exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the final seconds Courtois flew in to deny Thuram, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
