While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts 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 Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to halt Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his boot directly through the center to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the score that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber 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.”
