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 home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling 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 standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
