While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed wide.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the center to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, 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 comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper 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 stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois flew in to deny the midfielder, his job done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. 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.”
