While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.
Juventus, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities fell 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 missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied 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 set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and heading into the area where the keeper saved.
Next what tends to happen occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to stop the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, 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 nonetheless positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
