While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, 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 incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
