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While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he netted his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented Thibaut Courtois.

Key Saves Secure the Victory

The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and produce another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.

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

Juventus, which were without a victory since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.

Promising Start for Visitors

The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected wide.

Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a more impressive stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third one deflected wide; an additional headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.

Guler Shines

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

Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he went down to the turf and set up his teammate to blast over.

Late Tension

Militão dived to stop 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 remarkable, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, huge space appearing, Vlahović raced Militão, holding him off and heading into the box where Courtois saved.

Then the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the goal that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.

There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper dived to deny Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.

“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”

As for his form, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber 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 take lessons.”