It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities 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, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, the forward a little unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from the young Turk. Güler, 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 the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
