It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting 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 fans' rendition of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Then the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio 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. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his job done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform 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, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling 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 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 want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
