It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's rendition of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
Juventus, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when the wing-back broke free on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and heading into the area where the keeper saved.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
