While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the season, 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.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; another 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 smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the score that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, 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 job done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well 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 shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
