It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting 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 crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he scored his first goal of the campaign, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After 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; the team's reality however presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin 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 closest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the center to past the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
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 exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
