Jude Bellingham Is Back to Goalscoring Ways as Los Blancos Edge Out Juventus

It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.

Decisive Stops Ensure the Win

The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from the Serbian striker and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.

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

The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.

Strong Opening for Visitors

They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed past the post.

What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.

Guler Shines

The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.

There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and laid off to his teammate to fire over.

Second-Half Drama

Militão dived to halt Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the ball deflecting from the instep of his foot directly through the center to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.

Next what tends to happen occurred, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and the attacking midfielder.

It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop Thuram, his work complete. 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 found the net, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”

Regarding his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”