It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After 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 closing stages; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the center to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: 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 risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign 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 moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. 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 new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
