It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his job done. 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 while now since I’ve scored, 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 play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level 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.”
