It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was deflected past the post.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, 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 several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back twice until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save 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 low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
