While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting 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 wide open, basking in the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury 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 made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, 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 poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
