It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation however makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game 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 dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop Thuram, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
