While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, 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 deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the instep of his foot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”