It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender running and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver 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 came to scoring. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time 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, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
