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While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and uncertainty about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.

Key Saves Ensure the Win

The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive stop from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a match with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though presents worrying statistics.

“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had remarked in advance.

The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid problems at the beginning and once more near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, especially with the French defender running and Vlahović linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.

Strong Opening for Visitors

The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were ahead, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be penalized for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, the American midfielder's effort was deflected past the post.

Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, soon the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.

Turkish Talent Impresses

Most creative play came from Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. 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 closest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn the full-back twice until he tumbled to the ground and laid off to Militão to blast over.

Late Tension

The Brazilian dived to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot right through the center to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the area where Courtois made the stop.

Then the usual pattern happened, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the encounter.

“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”

Regarding his form, he continued: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, with 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 nonetheless 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 want to play…. You have to learn from it.”