It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, ultimately 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.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves 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 consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
The best moments came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the middle to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his job done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the match.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I aim 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 want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
