It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“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, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was important and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand 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 still positive spells but not the standard 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 learn from it.”
