It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Then in the final seconds Courtois flew in to deny the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. 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.”
