While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Decisive Stops Secure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation though makes for worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, 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 make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to stop the runner 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 the defender cutting out a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the instep of his foot right through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.
Then the usual pattern happened, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, 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 area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
