While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” 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 decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened 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, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender 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. Finally in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
