While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation however makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, 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 deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save compensated for by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, 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, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless 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.”
