It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his first goal of the campaign, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional 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 constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: 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 momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to stop Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, 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 caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
