While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, who 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 were dangerous on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.
Next the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé 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 opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
