It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match 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; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender running and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the instep of his foot directly through the middle to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois flew in to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
