While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin 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 attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the area where the keeper saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the stop made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Then Di Gregorio 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 Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I aim 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 want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
