It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing 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, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from the young Turk. 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 the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper 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, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
