While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Win
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, 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 chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip 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 closest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to halt the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to stop Thuram, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, 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.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
