While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted 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 Secure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled 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 the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, Vlahović raced his marker, using his strength and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
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 exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of 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 caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
