While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' rendition of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender running and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: 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. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
