While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović 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. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with the French defender running and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far 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 a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his boot directly through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, 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. Then in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, 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 nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
