While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender running and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
