While it wasn't a classic encounter, 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' singing of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s 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 opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to halt Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to deny Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, 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 good moments 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 shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
