It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back twice until he went down to the ground and set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde 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 the substitute unmarked in the area. Then in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well 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.”
