While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' rendition of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender running and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the inside of his foot directly through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room opening, Vlahović raced his marker, using his strength and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know 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 nonetheless good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
