It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward a little unfortunate to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; another chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, the defender 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 the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
