It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
Juventus, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough space amid four men 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, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To perform was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber 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 learn from it.”
