🔗 Share this article

While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.

Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory

Courtois understood perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, 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 remarked in advance.

The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.

Promising Start for Visitors

They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.

Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.

Guler Shines

The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.

There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.

Second-Half Drama

The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly 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 sphere bouncing from the instep of his boot directly through the center to past the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper made the stop.

Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created 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. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.

It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the match.

“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”

Regarding his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level 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 shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”