🔗 Share this article

While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.

Decisive Stops Secure the Victory

The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.

“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.

The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid issues at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender running and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.

Promising Start for Away Side

They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.

What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better save. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, 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; another chance with the head was wasted by Militão.

Guler Shines

The best moments were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.

There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn the full-back twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to Militão to fire over.

Second-Half Drama

The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his boot directly through the middle to past the halfway line. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois made the stop.

Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which struck the post. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his job done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.

“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming 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 felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”

As for his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”