It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition 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 though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, 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 yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his boot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker raced his marker, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of 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 level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
