While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his boot directly through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, 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, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
