While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his foot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level 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 system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
