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 found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender running and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the center to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was important and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. 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 caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
