While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium 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. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
Courtois knew better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop 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 game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.
What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.
Next what tends to happen happened, the save compensated for by the score that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough room amid four men to release a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
Regarding his form, he added: “I didn’t think 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 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 different coach, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
