Jude Bellingham Returns to Scoring Form as Real Madrid Edge Out Juventus

It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.

Decisive Stops Ensure the Win

Courtois understood better than anyone, having to rescue a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and produce another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however presents concerning reading.

“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had remarked in advance.

Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.

Strong Opening for Away Side

The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's shot was pushed past the post.

Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the Italians' momentum had faded too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by Militão.

Turkish Talent Impresses

Most creative play came from the young Turk. Güler, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, 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 early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.

Late Tension

Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.

Next what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which struck the post. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.

It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the final seconds Courtois flew in to stop the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the final of the encounter.

“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”

Regarding his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 14 assists, but I understand the perception 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 standard I aim 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 want to play…. You have to learn from it.”