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While it wasn't a classic encounter, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham once again stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, basking in the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. After a lengthy layoff and questions about his position, he netted his opening strike of the campaign, ultimately delivering 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.

Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory

Courtois knew perfectly well, having to save a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and Igor Tudor’s team outside the qualifying spots. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, 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 concerning reading.

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

Juventus, who hadn’t won since last month, did cause Madrid problems 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 linking up, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the home side's 27.

Promising Start for Visitors

The visitors began brightly, certainly. After just three minutes, they thought they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be penalized for holding Éder Militão. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to slide ahead of Vlahović when Kalulu broke free on the right flank. And soon after, Weston McKennie's effort was pushed past the post.

Next, from the defender's drive, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, quickly the visitors' impetus had dissipated as well. Madrid took control. Mostly it was all a bit functional, however, and the three best opportunities came to the French midfielder, who is not Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were off target, a third deflected wide; another headed opportunity was missed by the center-back.

Turkish Talent Impresses

The best moments came from the young Turk. The Turk, whose play was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was always involved. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.

Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he did appear it was the closest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would produce eight saves. Then some lovely fast footwork saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the ground and set up Militão to fire over.

Second-Half Drama

Militão threw himself to halt Kalulu at the start of the second period, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was through. The “assist” had been remarkable, with the defender cutting out 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, Vlahović outpaced Militão, holding him off and advancing into the area where Courtois saved.

Then the usual pattern happened, the stop made good by the score that follows it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior created it, creating enough space amid four men to release a driven effort which struck the post. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, the Frenchman denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a brilliant double stop from the forward and Brahim Díaz.

There were more scares: as the game was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a stunning sliding block as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of the substitute unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois flew in to stop Thuram, his work done. For Juve, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the season the final of the encounter.

“I'm overjoyed, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a lot of time out and thinking of that moment, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was important and to net the match-winner helps the team a lot.”

As for his form, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a failure, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I know the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a contributor to that, how we didn’t play as well 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 new manager, he’s got that system, how we intend to play…. You have to learn from it.”