While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters 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 opening strike of the season, 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.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After 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 closing stages; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his shot 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 his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, 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. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to deny Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 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 good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
