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While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the fans' singing of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.

Key Saves Secure the Win

Courtois understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality however makes for concerning reading.

“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.

The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender running and the striker linking up, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.

Promising Start for Visitors

They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward somewhat unlucky to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.

What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. Two were headed over, a third one took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.

Guler Shines

Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.

Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to blast over.

Second-Half Drama

The Brazilian threw himself to halt Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “assist” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his foot directly through the middle to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and heading into the box where the keeper made the stop.

Then the usual pattern happened, the stop made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid four men to release a low, left-footed shot which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny Thuram, his job complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.

“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”

As for his performance, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”