It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar 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, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward a little unfortunate to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the instep of his boot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League 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 score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
