It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' rendition of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, 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 chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to stop the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of 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 operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
