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While it wasn't a match for the ages, the roar from the Santiago Bernabéu was unmistakable. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the south end with his arms outstretched, listening to the crowd's rendition of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and questions about his role, he scored his opening strike of the season, ultimately securing a narrow win for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that put up a fight. “It was a tough battle,” stated Thibaut Courtois.

Key Saves Ensure the Victory

Courtois knew better than anyone, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another decisive save from Khéphren Thuram in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team below the cut. At the end of a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a promising opening, with those saves representing a wasted moment around the 85-minute mark; the team's reality though makes for worrying statistics.

“An Italian team in trouble is doubly threatening,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.

The Turin-based club, which hadn’t won since September, posed Madrid issues at the start and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, 66%-34%, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with the French defender surging forward and the striker linking up, managing a dozen attempts compared to the hosts' 27.

Promising Start for Visitors

They had started well, certainly. After just three minutes, they believed they were ahead, the forward somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of Vlahović when the wing-back dashed clear on the right. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected past the post.

Next, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better save. Fifteen minutes had gone. That said, quickly the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, though, and the top chances came to the French midfielder, who is not the coach's preferred forward. A couple were headed over, a third took a deflection; another headed opportunity was wasted by the center-back.

Turkish Talent Impresses

The best moments were provided by Arda Güler. The Turk, whose play was the closest there was to fluidity, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him clip to the far post for the Englishman.

Little was seen of the French superstar yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid got to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by the Juventus keeper, who would make eight saves. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he went down to the ground and set up his teammate to fire over.

Second-Half Drama

The Brazilian threw himself to stop the runner at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary save from the keeper when unexpectedly Vlahović was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been remarkable, with the defender intercepting a pass inside his own area and the ball deflecting from the instep of his foot right through the center to past the center circle. Racing after it, ample room opening, Vlahović outpaced his marker, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper saved.

Then the usual pattern happened, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger created it, working himself enough room amid multiple defenders to unleash a driven effort which struck the upright. Lurking in that striker’s role was the goalscorer. The breakthrough found, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by Di Gregorio and the Uruguayan seeing his half-volley blocked by Gatti. Subsequently the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant double stop from Mbappé and Brahim Díaz.

It was not the only one: as the match was drawing to a close, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were opened up and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the dying moments Courtois 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 match.

“I'm overjoyed, a while now since I’ve found the net, a period out and dreaming of that moment, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s incredible. I felt comfortable, really good. To perform was important and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”

Regarding his form, he added: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with 15 goals, 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 standard I want to play at, not the level like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”