While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium 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 singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin 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 denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his boot right through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the stop made good by the goal that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first 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 instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception 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 level 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 system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
