While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Win
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.
The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted 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.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the center to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced his marker, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
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 risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds Courtois dived to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the debut season. 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.”
