While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality though makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
Juventus, who were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was deflected wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; 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 nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the center to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Then what tends to happen happened, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
