While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid dominated possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward 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. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin 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 closest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the area where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the stop made good by the goal that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
