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It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.

Decisive Stops Secure the Win

The shot-stopper knew better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation though presents worrying statistics.

“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.

The Turin-based club, who were without a victory since September, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.

Promising Start for Away Side

They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.

Next, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by Militão.

Turkish Talent Impresses

Most creative play came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the back post for the Englishman.

Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.

Late Tension

The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the instep of his boot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room opening, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois made the stop.

Next the usual pattern occurred, the save compensated for by the score that follows it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

It was not the only one: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.

“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was crucial 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, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”