While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. 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 intervene ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and set up his teammate to blast 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 through. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the middle to past the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé 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 exposed and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season 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 elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
