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 finally stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' singing of his anthem. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Victory
Courtois understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s 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 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents concerning reading.
“An Italian team in trouble is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.
Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.
Next, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third one took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by Militão.
Guler Shines
The best moments came from Arda Güler. 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.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to blast over.
Late Tension
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the goal that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.
There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the last of the encounter.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”
As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”
