While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. 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 Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. 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 chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the score that follows 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 forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know 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 caliber 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.”
