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 stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, eventually delivering 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 Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash 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, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop 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 exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. 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 helps the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
