It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his first goal of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another crucial save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally 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 consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, 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 headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by 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 clip to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen happened, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, 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 scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
