While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory 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 knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation however makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I aim 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 take lessons.”
