While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to deny Thuram, his work done. 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 while now since I’ve found the net, a period 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 was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the level I want 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.”
