Bellingham Returns to Scoring Form as Los Blancos Edge Out the Italian Giants

While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting 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, listening to the crowd's singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he netted his opening strike of the season, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.

Key Saves Ensure the Win

Courtois knew better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.

“A side from Italy in trouble is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.

Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, particularly with the French defender running and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.

Promising Start for Visitors

The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed past the post.

What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another chance with the head was wasted by Militão.

Turkish Talent Impresses

The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, 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 yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. First his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the turf and set up his teammate to fire over.

Second-Half Drama

The Brazilian threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space opening, Vlahović outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.

Then what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough room amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.

It was not the only one: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the area. Then in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his job done. For the visitors, 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 lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team a lot.”

As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I want 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.”