It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's rendition of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
