While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' rendition of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin 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 denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern happened, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to deny Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless 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.”
