It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and questions 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. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
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 unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the instep of his foot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, 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 elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important 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, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
