It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the season, ultimately 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.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager 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.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker combining, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and set up his teammate 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 suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot directly through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that 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 nonetheless good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. 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.”
