While it wasn't a classic encounter, 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 crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender running and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the instep of his boot directly through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to deny the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
