While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' rendition of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his first goal of the season, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when Kalulu broke free on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the center to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, 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 caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
