While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering 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 Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. 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 reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.
“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
The best moments were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. First his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.
Late Tension
Militão dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper made the stop.
Then what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the score that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To perform was important 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, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception 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 level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
