While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward 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 thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin 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 scoring. First his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot directly through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović raced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, 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. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For Juve, 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 lot of time out and thinking of that moment, returning 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 perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still 15 goals, 14 assists, 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 nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
