It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough space 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 should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to stop Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
