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It may not have been a match for the ages, the roar from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, listening to the crowd's rendition of his anthem. Following a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he netted his first goal of the season, eventually securing 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 Ensure the Victory

The shot-stopper understood perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the Juventus manager may reflect on a decent start, with those opportunities representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality however makes for worrying statistics.

“An Italian team in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” the Madrid coach had warned in advance.

Juventus, who were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid problems at the start and again near the conclusion. Madrid dominated the ball, 66%-34%, but Juventus were dangerous on the counter, especially with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, managing 12 shots compared to the hosts' 27.

Promising Start for Visitors

They had started well, without a doubt. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward a little unfortunate to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of Vlahović when the wing-back broke free on the right flank. Then soon after, the American midfielder's shot was deflected past the post.

What followed, from Federico Gatti's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had passed. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated too. Madrid took control. Mostly it was rather mechanical, however, and the top chances came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be the coach's preferred forward. Two were off target, a third took a deflection; an additional headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.

Guler Shines

Most creative play came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the closest there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.

Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his attempt was denied by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso twice until he tumbled to the turf 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 customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with Lloyd Kelly intercepting a pass inside his own area and the sphere deflecting from the inside of his boot directly through the middle to beyond the halfway line. Racing after it, huge space appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, holding him off and heading into the area where Courtois saved.

Then what tends to happen occurred, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Then Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

There were more scares: as the match was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments the Madrid keeper flew in to stop the midfielder, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, Bellingham’s first of the season 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, returning in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, in our stadium, it’s incredible. I was at ease, excellent. To play well was crucial and to net the match-winner benefits the team greatly.”

As for his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the perception 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 standard I want to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a different coach, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to take lessons.”