It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
