While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, 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 presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender running and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper saved.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save compensated for by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To perform was important and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
