While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, the striker raced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to stop Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling 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 aim to play at, not the level 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 take lessons.”
