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 found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save 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 match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation however makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “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 standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
