It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão 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 through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the middle to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the save compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the first year. 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.”
