It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; another chance with the head was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the center to past the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny Thuram, his job done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the last of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
