While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, 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,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 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 pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities 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 missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned 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 volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand 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 level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
