It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Key Saves Secure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however presents worrying statistics.
“An Italian team in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked beforehand.
Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with the French defender running and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right. And three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was deflected wide.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third one deflected wide; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, 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 early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the center to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović outpaced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the area where the keeper saved.
Next what tends to happen happened, the stop made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds Courtois flew in to deny Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To perform was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”
As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”
