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It may not have been a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's singing of Hey Jude. After a shoulder injury and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, eventually securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that put up a fight. “We had to sweat for it,” commented the Belgian goalkeeper.

Key Saves Ensure the Win

The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team below the cut. At the end of a match with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the visiting coach may consider a promising opening, with those opportunities representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.

“A side from Italy in difficulty is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned beforehand.

The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since September, posed Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus were dangerous on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.

Strong Opening for Away Side

They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović a little unfortunate to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu dashed clear on the right flank. And soon after, the American midfielder's effort was deflected wide.

Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded as well. Madrid took control. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances fell to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was missed by the center-back.

Turkish Talent Impresses

Most creative play were provided by Arda Güler. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the back post for Bellingham.

Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. First his shot was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.

Second-Half Drama

Militão threw himself to stop Kalulu at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation save from the keeper when suddenly the attacker was away. The “assist” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a ball inside his own area and the sphere bouncing from the inside of his foot directly through the middle to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker raced Militão, using his strength and heading into the area where Courtois saved.

Then what tends to happen happened, the stop compensated for by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, creating enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which hit the upright. Positioned in that forward position was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

There were more scares: as the match was slipping away, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Finally in the final seconds Courtois dived to deny the midfielder, his work complete. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the campaign the last of the match.

“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I was at ease, really good. To play well was crucial and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”

As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless positive spells but not the level I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”