While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; another chance with the head was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. 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 the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, 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 Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman 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.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his job done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
