It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition 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 missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt 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 tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot directly through the center to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé 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 opened up and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want 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 take lessons.”
