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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 home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the fans' rendition of Hey Jude. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his first goal of the season, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.

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 save from the French midfielder in the final minute. The win puts Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. After 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 however makes for concerning reading.

“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had remarked beforehand.

Juventus, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu surging forward and the striker combining, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' twenty-seven.

Promising Start for Away Side

The visitors began brightly, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, Vlahović a little unlucky to be called for pulling Éder Militão. Shortly after, the Madrid defender had to slide in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. And soon after, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed wide.

What followed, from Federico Gatti's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had passed. That said, quickly the Italians' momentum had dissipated as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was rather mechanical, however, and the three best opportunities fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. A couple were off target, 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 the young Turk. Güler, whose play 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 Bellingham.

There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his shot was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would produce several stops. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to blast over.

Late Tension

Militão threw himself to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to past the halfway line. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the box where the keeper saved.

Next what tends to happen occurred, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the post. Lurking in that forward position was the goalscorer. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and Fede Valverde seeing his volley blocked by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

It was not the only one: as the match 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 unmarked in the penalty box. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper flew in to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For Juve, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the final of the encounter.

“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve scored, a period out and thinking of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal benefits the team greatly.”

As for his performance, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a failure, still fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still 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 new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”