It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting 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, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance 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 outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy 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 issues at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the instep of his boot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, 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 good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
