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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 outstretched, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he netted his first goal of the campaign, eventually delivering 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 Ensure the Win

The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a clear chance from Dušan Vlahović and make another crucial stop from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may reflect on a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the closing stages; the team's reality though presents concerning reading.

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

Juventus, which hadn’t won since last month, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.

Strong Opening for Away Side

The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for holding the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, the Madrid defender had to intervene ahead of him when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was deflected past the post.

Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third deflected wide; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.

Turkish Talent Impresses

The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.

Little was seen of the French superstar early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. Initially his shot was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade the full-back twice until he tumbled to the ground and set up his teammate to blast over.

Second-Half Drama

Militão threw himself to halt the runner at the outset of the second period, 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 penalty box and the ball bouncing from the instep of his foot right through the middle to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, huge space opening, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois made the stop.

Then what tends to happen happened, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A burst from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley deflected by the defender. 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, the defender had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the penalty box. Then in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to deny Thuram, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the encounter.

“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”

As for his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”