It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. 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 promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality though presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was deflected past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary 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 ball deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio 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 the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know 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 level I want 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 take lessons.”
