It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. First his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the area where the keeper saved.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“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 elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
