While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality though presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, 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.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space opening, Vlahović outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game 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. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
