While it wasn't a match for the ages, 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, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the campaign, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again 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 linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the area where the keeper saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his job done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think 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 standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
