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 home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. 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 were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the stop compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important 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 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
