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While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the season, ultimately delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated Thibaut Courtois.

Key Saves Secure the Victory

The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the final minute. This result puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.

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

Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.

Strong Opening for Away Side

They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, the forward a little unfortunate to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. And soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed past the post.

What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, 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 the center-back.

Turkish Talent Impresses

Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.

Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce several stops. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to his teammate to blast over.

Late Tension

The Brazilian dived to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second half, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a ball inside his own penalty box and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his foot directly through the middle to beyond the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.

Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the score that follows it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to release a driven effort which hit the post. Positioned in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.

There were more scares: as the match 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 dying moments Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his work done. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the match.

“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and dreaming of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”

As for his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, 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 good moments but not the level I want to play at, not the level 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.”