While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, eventually securing 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 Ensure the Victory
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his boot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
