While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering 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 Ensure the Victory
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović raced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.
Then what tends to happen happened, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. 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. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to stop Thuram, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still 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 new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
