While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game 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; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 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 level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
