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 once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he went down to the ground and set up his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot directly through the middle to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
