🔗 Share this article

It may not have been a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.

Key Saves Secure the Victory

Courtois knew perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents concerning reading.

“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.

The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.

Promising Start for Visitors

The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.

Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by Militão.

Guler Shines

The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest 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.

There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to fire over.

Late Tension

Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his foot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper saved.

Then the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough room amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Positioned 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 deflected by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, 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 penalty box. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the match.

“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”

As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know 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 nonetheless good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”