It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper saved.
Next what tends to happen happened, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked 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 game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his job done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, 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 worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
