While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting 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 wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Then the usual pattern happened, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough room amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still 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 new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
