While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; another chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to stop Thuram, his work complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, 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 failure, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
