It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves 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,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back 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 stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far 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. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to halt the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
