It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu 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 Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. 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 continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
