It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. 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: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well 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 new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
