Real Madrid vs. Juventus: Jude Bellingham's Old Instincts Return

MADRID, THURSDAY — Upon his arrival at Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham was known as an attacking midfielder with a strong goal-scoring instinct. That reputation gradually faded over the next two seasons.

Bellingham's goal-scoring instinct has not disappeared permanently; rather, it has returned at the right moment. Bellingham's predatory instinct from the past reemerged as he led Real to a 1-0 victory over Juventus at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, during the continuation of the UEFA Champions League, Thursday (23/10/2025) early morning WIB.

Bellingham can be considered one of the most successful signings in the transfer history of Real. Brought in from Borussia Dortmund, the English passport holder has been able to fill the void in the forward position for Real following the departure of Karim Benzema.

It is common for a football player to require an adaptation period in their first season at a new club. However, Bellingham immediately radiated his brilliance without needing much time to adapt.

He collected 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions in his debut season with "Los Blancos." Bellingham's position as an attacking midfielder, which is closer to the opponent's goal, has triggered his latent goal-scoring instinct as Carlo Ancelotti's tactics employ a false nine formation.

However, the arrival of French striker Kylian Mbappe in Bellingham's second season at Real Madrid caused his goalscoring instincts to slowly fade.

The reoccupied attacking position has reduced Bellingham's role. He is no longer acting as a skilled predator in the penalty area. His role has instantly shifted to that of a supplier of assists.

It is evident that Bellingham's goal tally decreased to 15 goals in 58 matches in his second season. On the other hand, his assist collection actually increased from 13 to 15.

Bellingham has started this season rather slowly. In the 12 matches that Real has played across all competitions, Bellingham has yet to score a goal.

Bellingham's slow start in scoring this season has also been exacerbated by his absence in four matches following a shoulder injury. However, Bellingham's goal-scoring instinct has not disappeared permanently; rather, it has returned at the right moment.

Bellingham has finally managed to score his first goal of the season. The timing was perfect, on the grand stage of the Champions League against the Italian giant, Juventus.

Bellingham's goal ultimately became the savior for Real from the anomaly. "Los Blancos" were so dominant in terms of ball possession and the number of shots on target, yet they found it difficult to breach Juve's goal.

"Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior created a miracle for that goal. Jude has returned to his best form, playing very well tonight, and I think we deserved to score one more goal overall," said Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after the match.

On the other hand, Juve took a strange initiative in this match. After not winning in six consecutive games, the team coached by Igor Tudor should have played more boldly at Real's home ground.

However, Tudor opted for a more conservative approach. He instructed his players to prioritize defense in the hope of securing at least one point.

Juve, which usually plays with a four-defender system, this time employed three defenders in a 3-4-2-1 formation. In a defensive position, the two wing players, Pierre Kalulu and Andrea Cambiaso, will drop back to form a parallel five-defender line.

Juve defended very deeply. They allowed Real players to freely control the ball in the final third of their defense. However, the distance between the lines was kept as tight as possible to prevent Real from scoring.

As a result, Real dominated ball possession with 66 percent and recorded 10 shots on target. This is in stark contrast to Juve, who were passive and allowed Real to apply more pressure.

Juve's pass per defensive action (PPDA) score shows they didn't press, allowing Real Madrid to make an average of 15.8 passes per tackle. Juve also made more passes in their own half (157) compared to Real's (97).

The statistics prove that Tudor indeed intended to play it safe in this match. The tactic of defending very deeply and maintaining close spacing between lines successfully trapped Real in a maze of deadlock.

In that constrained situation, Bellingham emerged as a differentiator. The breakthrough goal originated from Vinicius's maneuver, who was still able to shoot from inside the penalty area despite being surrounded by four Juventus players. The ball resulting from Vinicius's shot hit the post and was immediately seized by Bellingham.

"This is painful. We have executed our plan. I believe the team performed to the best of their abilities. It is difficult to play at the Bernabeu against Madrid. They applied pressure, and we had less ball possession than usual. Tactically, perhaps we could improve our capabilities a bit," said Tudor.

Bellingham's way of responding to the loose ball from Vinicius's shot further clarifies that his predatory instinct has not faded, but rather emerges precisely when needed. While the Juventus defender is still caught off guard by the rapid situation, Bellingham has already recognized the opportunity to score a fraction of a second faster than his opponent.

"I think he (Bellingham) is a player who operates in a midfield position. He has the skills and instincts to be in strategically important areas of the field, but he is also a box-to-box player. He is one of the most complete players in the world," said Real's Coach, Xabi Alonso.

The victory over Juve maintains Real's perfection in the Champions League. "Los Blancos" have accumulated nine points and are now one of five top teams in the standings that have successfully achieved three wins from three matches. Meanwhile, this defeat further sinks Juve to the lower part of the standings with two points from two draws and one loss. (REUTERS)