It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper 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. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, 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 beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender running and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the instep of his boot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois flew in to deny the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
