While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward a little unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. 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 came to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce 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.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the center to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match 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 penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
