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It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.

Decisive Stops Ensure the Win

The shot-stopper knew perfectly well, having to rescue a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. After a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation though makes for concerning reading.

“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.

The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović combining, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.

Promising Start for Away Side

They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene ahead of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.

What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third deflected wide; another 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 always involved. His clever control and spin saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.

Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to fire over.

Late Tension

Militão dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot right through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker raced his marker, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.

Then the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley deflected by Gatti. Then the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

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

“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”

Regarding his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, 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 didn’t play as well last year, there were still 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 shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”