While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' rendition of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, 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 the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper saved.
Next what tends to happen occurred, 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 release a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to deny the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think 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 contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
