While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be called for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to stop Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot directly through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker raced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to unleash a driven effort which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: 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 mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois flew in to deny the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well 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 shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
