It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of 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 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening 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 pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the area where the keeper saved.
Next the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop 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 opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments Courtois flew in to deny Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
