While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff 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 made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder 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 visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was important and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well 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 shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
