While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. 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 Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, 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 dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, 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.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the center to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match 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 the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber 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 take lessons.”
