It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by 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 back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot directly through the middle to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.
Then what tends to happen happened, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough room amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level 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 take lessons.”
