It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts 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 opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. 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. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which struck the upright. 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 Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his work done. 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 found the net, a period out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “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 underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
