It may not have been a match for the ages, 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 wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately 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
The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of 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 85-minute mark; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Strong Opening for Visitors
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back broke free on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected past the post.
Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the ground and set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
The Brazilian threw himself to halt the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović outpaced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his job done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the encounter.
“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To score a winner, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know 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 level 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 shape, how we want to play…. You have to take lessons.”
