It may not have been a classic encounter, 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, basking in the fans' rendition of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Visitors
They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.
Next, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. Initially his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make several stops. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the instep of his foot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the area where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the goal that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
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 unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To perform was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber 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 learn from it.”