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While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually delivering a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.

Key Saves Secure the Victory

The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another crucial save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; their current situation however makes for concerning reading.

“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked 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 dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the home side's 27.

Promising Start for Away Side

The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unfortunate to be called for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.

What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive stop. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, soon the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by Militão.

Guler Shines

Most creative play were provided by 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 back post for the Englishman.

There was not much sign of the French superstar early on, but when he did appear it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. Initially his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the turf and set up his teammate to fire over.

Late Tension

Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the outset of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the instep of his boot directly through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space opening, Vlahović raced his marker, holding him off and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.

Next the usual pattern occurred, the stop compensated for by the goal that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman stopped by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of the substitute momentarily alone in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his work done. For the visitors, there was no way back, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.

“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and dreaming of that instant, back in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To perform was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”

Regarding his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still fifteen strikes, 14 assists, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”