While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, who were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level 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.”
