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It may not have been a match for the ages, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he netted his first goal 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 understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and make another decisive stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team below the cut. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; their current situation however makes for concerning reading.

“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.

Juventus, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender running and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.

Promising Start for Visitors

They had started well, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was pushed past the post.

What followed, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third one took a deflection; another chance with the head was wasted by Militão.

Guler Shines

Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for the Englishman.

Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to a goal. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Next some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back twice until he went down to the turf and set up Militão to fire over.

Second-Half Drama

The Brazilian threw himself to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out a pass inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.

Then what tends to happen happened, the save made good by the score that comes after it. A burst from Vinícius Júnior created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Positioned in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and Fede Valverde seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a superb quick saves from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.

It was not the only one: 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 momentarily alone in the penalty box. Then in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the encounter.

“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal benefits the team a lot.”

Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”